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
Pinene-derived bipyridine ligands (PINDY) in asymmetric catalysis.
ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S
(2000)
219
U132
Polymer Supported Reagents in Synthesis: Preparation of Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane Derivatives via Tandem Michael Addition Reactions and Subsequent Combinatorial Decoration
J Comb Chem
(2000)
2
104
(doi: 10.1021/cc9900697)
Rapid assembly of oligosaccharides: 1,2-Diacetal-mediated reactivity tuning in the coupling of glycosyl fluorides
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
(2000)
11
173
A short and efficient stereoselective synthesis of the polyhydroxylated macrolactone (+)-aspicilin
Organic letters
(2000)
2
123
(doi: 10.1021/ol991214s)
Reductive decomplexation of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes: a new route to stereodefined acyclic 1,5-diols and 1,5,7-triols
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(2000)
211
(doi: 10.1039/a907630a)
A short and efficient stereoselective synthesis of the potent 5- lipoxygenase inhibitor CMI-977
Synthetic Communications
(2000)
30
1955
(doi: 10.1080/00397910008087245)
New strategies for organic catalysis: The first highly enantioselective organocatalytic Diels-Alder reaction
Chemtracts
(2000)
13
592
METHYL 2,3-O-(6,6'-OCTAHYDRO-6,6'-BI-2H-PYRAN-2,2'-DIYL)-a-D-GALACTOPYRANOSIDE
Organic Syntheses
(2000)
77
212
(doi: 10.15227/orgsyn.077.0212)
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(2000)
36
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