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

Total synthesis of the structurally unique ionophore antibiotic X-14547 A
MP Edwards, SV Ley, SG Lister, BD Palmer
Chemical Communications
(1983)
Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones
SV Ley, NS Simpkins
Chemical Communications
(1983)
STEREOCHEMISTRY OF A 5,5,10-TRIMETHYL-2-DECALONE BY PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE - A NEW APPLICATION OF INDOR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY
SV LEY, AJ WHITTLE, GE HAWKES
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH-S
(1983)
Synthesis of polyoxygenated trans -decalins as potential insect antifeedants
SV Ley, D Neuhaus, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
A PRACTICAL CATALYTIC METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF STEROIDAL 1,4-DIEN-3-ONES BY OXYGEN ATOM TRANSFER FROM IODOXYBENZENE TO DIPHENYL DISELENIDE
DHR Barton, CRA Godfrey, JW Morzycki, WB Motherwell, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
Thermal rearrangement reactions of tricarbonyliron lactone complexes
GD Annis, SV Ley, CR Self, R Sivaramakrishnan, DJ Williams
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1982)
Dehydrogenation of lactones using benzeneseleninic anhydride. X -Ray crystal structure of 3β-acetoxy-14α-hydroxy-17a-oxa- D -homo-5α-androst-15-en-17-one
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, SV Ley, DJ Williams
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1982)
Synthesis of methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4,5]decanes using organoselenium mediated cyclization reactions
SV Ley, B Lygo
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
A conformational study of elaiophylin by X-ray crystallography and difference 1H NMR methods; observation of a selective sign reversal of the nuclear overhauser effect
SV Ley, D Neuhaus, DJ Williams
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
A short syntesis of (±)-hirsutene involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
SV Ley, PJ Murray
Chemical Communications
(1982)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address