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

Isolation, Characterisation and Oxidation of Isomeric Ferrelactone Complexes.
GD Annis, SV Ley, R Sivaramakrishnan, AM Atkinson, D Rogers, DJ Williams
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
(1979)
182
Preparation of aldehydes and ketones by oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons with benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, DJ Lester, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1979)
20
The crystal structure of 3-epicaryoptin and the reversal of the currently accepted absolute configuration of clerodin
D Rogers, GG Ünal, DJ Williams, SV Ley, GA Sim, BS Joshi, KR Ravindranath
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1979)
Preparation of episulphides from alkenes via succinimide- N -sulphenyl chloride or phthalimide- N -sulphenyl chloride adducts
MU Bombala, SV Ley
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1979)
Dehydrogenation of steroidal ketones using benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, DJ Lester, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1978)
Oxidation of aldehyde hydrazones, hydrazo compounds, and hydroxylamines with benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, DJ Lester, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1978)
Oxidation of alcohols using benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, AG Brewster, RAHF Hui, DJ Lester, SV Ley, TG Back
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1978)
The formation of unusual sultones during the rearrangement reactions of bicyclic ketones
DS Brown, H Heaney, SV Ley, KG Mason, P Singh
Tetrahedron Letters
(1978)
19
Conversion of thiocarbonyl compounds into their corresponding oxo derivatives using benzeneseleninic anhydride
DHR Barton, NJ Cussans, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1978)
Formation of lactones from dienes via iron carbonyl complexes
GDA Nnis, SV Ley
Chemical Communications
(1977)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address