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 phenols to ortho -quinones using diphenylseleninic anhydride
Chemical Communications
(1976)
985
(doi: 10.1039/C39760000985)
The stability of NN -dialkylthiohydroxylamines
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1975)
855
(doi: 10.1039/C39750000855)
Aryne chemistry. Part XXXIII. Reactions of tetrahalogenobenzynes with methoxyarenes and the photolysis and thermolysis of some of the products
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1974)
2681
(doi: 10.1039/p19740002681)
Aryne chemistry. Part XXXIV. Reactions of NN-dimethylarylamines with tetrahalogenobenzynes
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1974)
2688
(doi: 10.1039/p19740002688)
ARYNE CHEMISTRY .35. REACTIONS OF ARYNES WITH 1-AMINOCYCLOALKENES AND HYDROLYSES OF ADDUCTS
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1974)
2693
(doi: 10.1039/p19740002693)
REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS OF BICYCLIC SYSTEMS .2. REARRANGEMENTS OF 1-DIMETHYLAMINO-5,6,7,8-TETRAHALOGENO-1,4-DIHYDRO-1,4-ETHENONAPHTHALENE DERIVATIVES AND ANALOGOUS 5,6,7,8-TETRAFLUORO-1,4-DIHYDRO-N-METHYL-1,4-IMINONAPHTHALENE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1974)
2698
(doi: 10.1039/p19740002698)
REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS OF BICYCLIC SYSTEMS .3. ACID-CATALYZED REARRANGEMENTS OF 1,4-DIHYDRO-1-METHOXY-1,4-ETHENONAPHTHALENE (1-METHOXYBENZOBARRELENE) AND ITS 5,6,7,8-TETRAHALOGENO-DERIVATIVES
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1974)
2702
(doi: 10.1039/P19740002702)
REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS OF BICYCLIC SYSTEMS .4. ACID-CATALYZED REARRANGEMENTS OF 5,6,7,8-TETRAFLUORO-1,4-DIHYDRO-1-METHOXY-3,9-DIMETHYL-1,4-ETHENONAPHTHALENE (1-METHOXY-3,5-DIMETHYLTETRAFLUOROBENZOBARRELENE)
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1974)
2711
(doi: 10.1039/P19740002711)
Mećhanistic dichotomy in cycloadditions to cyclooctatetraeneiron tricarbonyl. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the TCNE and CSI adducts
Tetrahedron Letters
(1973)
14
2943
N-alkylation of indole and pyrroles in dimethyl sulphoxide
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1973)
499
(doi: 10.1039/p19730000499)
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