Director of Research

In the Ley Group, we specialise in developing new synthesis methods and applying them to the construction of biologically important molecules. Over the years we have completed the total synthesis of many natural products, including: spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent); rapamycin (immunosuppressant); thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor); azadirachtin (insect antifeedant); and bengazole A (fungicide). In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also pioneered flow chemistry and machine assisted synthesis. 

For more detailed research information and our publication list, please see our legacy group website.

Completed Natural Products

Publications

Oxidation of ketone and aldehyde hydrazones, oximes, and semicarbazones and of hydroxylamines and hydrazo-compounds, using benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, DJ Lester, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1980)
Conversion of thiocarbonyl compounds into their corresponding oxo-derivatives using benzeneseleninic anhydride
NJ Cussans, SV Ley, DHR Barton
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1980)
Removal of thioacetal protecting groups by benzeneseleninic anhydride
NJ Cussans, SV Ley, DHR Barton
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1980)
Selenium-mediated cyclization reactions of alkenyl-substituted β-ketoesters
WP Jackson, SV Ley, AJ Whittle
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1980)
CATALYTIC-OXIDATION OF THIOCARBONYL COMPOUNDS INVOLVING THE USE OF 1,2-DIBROMOTETRACHLOROETHANE AS A BROMINATING REAGENT FOR DIARYL TEII SPECIES
SV Ley, CA Meerholz, DHR Barton
Tetrahedron Letters
(1980)
21
Thermal decomposition of tricarbonyliron lactone complexes
GD Annis, SV Ley, CR Self, R Sivaramakrishnan
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1980)
Formation of β-lactams from tricarbonyliron lactone complexes
GD Annis, EM Hebblethwaite, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1980)
Dehydrogenation of steroidal and triterpenoid ketones using benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, DJ Lester, SV Ley
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1980)
Bis( p -methoxyphenyl) telluroxide: a new, mild oxidising agent
DHR Barton, SV Ley, CA Meerholz
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1979)
Synthesis of a substituted cis-decalin as a potential insect antifeedant
WP Jackson, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1979)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address