Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

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

The preparation and alkylation of a butanedione-derived chiral glycine equivalent and its use for the synthesis of alpha-amino acids and alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids

CI Harding, DJ Dixon, SV Ley

Tetrahedron

(2004)

7679

(doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2004.06.063)

Synthesis of the C-1/C-15 spiroketal fragment (AB) of spongistatin 1.

P Orsini, SV Ley, AS Jessiman, MJ Gaunt

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2004)

228

U77

A concise total synthesis of (+)-okaramine C

PR Hewitt, E Cleator, SV Ley

Org Biomol Chem

(2004)

2415

(doi: 10.1039/b410180d)

5-Pyrrolidin-2-yltetrazole as an asymmetric organocatalyst for the addition of ketones to nitro-olefins.

AJA Cobb, DA Longbottom, DM Shaw, SV Ley

Chem Commun (Camb)

(2004)

1808

(doi: 10.1039/b409646k)

Synthesis of the thapsigargins

SV Ley, A Antonello, EP Balskus, DT Booth, SB Christensen, E Cleator, H Gold, K Högenauer, U Hünger, RM Myers, SF Oliver, O Simic, MD Smith, H Søhoel, AJA Woolford

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

(2004)

101

12073

(doi: 10.1073/pnas.0403300101)