Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci | Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

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

[3+27] Cycloaddition of acetylenes with azides to give 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in a modular flow reactor

CD Smith, IR Baxendale, S Lanners, JJ Hayward, SC Smith, SV Ley

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2007)

5

1559

(doi: 10.1039/b702995k)

Tagged phosphine reagents to assist reaction work-up by phase-switched scavenging using a modular flow reactor

CD Smith, IR Baxendale, GK Tranmer, M Baumann, SC Smith, RA Lewthwaite, SV Ley

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2007)

5

1562

(doi: 10.1039/b703033a)

A fascination with 1,2-diacetals.

SV Ley, A Polara

J Org Chem

(2007)

72

5943

(doi: 10.1021/jo0703451)

Continuous flow ligand-free Heck reactions using monolithic Pd [0] nanoparticles

N Nikbin, M Ladlow, SV Ley

Organic Process Research and Development

(2007)

11

458

(doi: 10.1021/op7000436)

Natural product synthesis: A stimulus for discovery

SV Ley

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2007)

233

Influence of microwave irradiation on the reaction of MgO and Al2O3 slurries to form layered double hydroxide

SJ Mitchell, IR Baxendale, W Jones

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2007)

233

205

Design and total synthesis of unnatural analogues of the sub-nanomolar SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin.

SP Andrews, MM Tait, M Ball, SV Ley

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2007)

5

1427

(doi: 10.1039/b702481a)

Optimisation of conditions for O-benzyl and N-benzyloxycarbonyl protecting group removal using an automated flow hydrogenator

KR Knudsen, J Holden, SV Ley, M Ladlow

Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis

(2007)

349

535

(doi: 10.1002/adsc.200600558)

Chemical Variation of Natural‐Product‐Like Scaffolds: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Fused Bicyclic Acetal Derivatives

L Milroy, G Zinzalla, G Prencipe, P Michel, SV Ley, M Gunaratnam, M Beltran, S Neidle

Angewandte Chemie

(2007)

119

2545

(doi: 10.1002/ange.200604688)

Chemical variation of natural-product-like scaffolds: Design, synthesis, and biological activity of fused bicyclic acetal derivatives

L-G Milroy, G Zinzalla, G Prencipe, P Michel, SV Ley, M Gunaratnam, M Beltran, S Neidle

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

(2007)

46

2493

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200604688)