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

An x-ray crystallographic, mass spectroscopic, and NMR study of the limonoid insect antifeedant azadirachtin and related derivatives
JN Bilton, HB Broughton, PS Jones, SV Ley, HS Rzepa, RN Sheppard, AMZ Slawin, DJ Williams, Z Lidert, ED Morgan
Tetrahedron
(1987)
43
Synthesis of a hydroxy dihydrofuran acetal related to azadirachtin: A potent insect antifeedant
SV Ley, D Santafianos, WM Blaney, MSJ Simmonds
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
Synthesis of a hydroxy dihydrofuran acetal related to azadirachtin: A potent insect antifeedant
SV Ley, D Santafianos, WM Blaney, MSJ Simmonds
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
PREPARATION OF TERT-BUTYL 4-DIETHYLPHOSPHONO-3-OXOBUTANETHIOATE AND USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF (E)-4-ALKENYL-3-OXOESTERS AND MACROLIDES
SV Ley, PR Woodward
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
Application of ultrasound to the preparation of tricarbonyliron diene complexes
SV Ley, CMR Low, AD White
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
(1986)
302
Alkylation reactions of anions derived from 2-benzenesulphonyl tetrahydropyran and their application to spiroketal syntiesis
SV Ley, B Lygo, F Sternfeld, A Wonnacott
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
The synthesis of trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans via the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclisation reaction
G Brussani, SV Ley, JL Wright, DJ Williams
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1986)
X -Ray crystallographic structure determination of detigloyldihydroazadirachtin and reassignment of the structure of the limonoid insect antifeedant azadirachtin
HB Broughton, SV Ley, AMZ Slawin, DJ Williams, ED Morgan
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1986)
1
Ultrasonic formation and reactions of sodium phenylselenide
SV Ley, LA O'Neil, CMR Low
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
Synthetic studies towards the acyltetronic acid iohophore M 139603
AM Doherty, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1986)
27

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address