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

FE2(CO)9 IN TETRAHYDROFURAN OR UNDER SONOCHEMICAL CONDITIONS AS CONVENIENT PRACTICAL ROUTES TO PI-ALLYLTRICARBONYLIRON LACTONE COMPLEXES
AM Horton, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
Tetrahedron
(1984)
40
Synthesis of (±)-cis-6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-ylacetic acid, a natural product from Viverra civetta, using organoselenium-mediated cyclisation reactions
SV Ley, B Lygo, H Molines
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
The use of 3-acetoxy-1-trimethylsilylbutadiene in the synthesis of anthracyclinone derivatives
PC Bulman-Page, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
Synthesis of spiroacetals using organoselenium-mediated cyclisation reactions. X -Ray molecular structure of (2 S ,8 R )-8-methyl-2-phenyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecan-4( R )-ol
AM Doherty, SV Ley, B Lygo, DJ Williams
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1984)
Oxo complexes of ruthenium( VI ) and ( VII ) as organic oxidants
G Green, WP Griffith, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley, M Schröder
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1984)
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
GD Annis, EM Hebblethwaite, ST Hodgson, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1983)
The Diels-Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal
DM Hollinshead, SC Howell, SV Ley, M Mahon, NM Ratcliffe, PA Worthington
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide
SV Ley, M Mahon
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
The total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I
SV Ley, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle
Chemical Communications
(1983)
Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones
SV Ley, NS Simpkins
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1983)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address