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
Asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition of malonates to enones using a proline tetrazole catalyst
Chemical Communications
(2005)
66
(doi: 10.1039/b514636d)
Defects in signal transduction caused by a T cell receptor β chain substitution
Eur J Immunol
(2005)
20
1417
(doi: 10.1002/eji.1830200702)
Michael, Michael–aldol and Michael–Michael reactions of enolate equivalents of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry
(2005)
3
4095
(doi: 10.1039/b512410g)
Evolution or Revolution: The Challenge to the Modern Medicinal Chemist
(2005)
1
Total synthesis of two novel subpicomolar sarco/endoplasmatic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors designed by an analysis of the binding site of thapsigargin
J Med Chem
(2005)
48
7005
(doi: 10.1021/jm058036v)
Synthesis of alkaloid natural products using solid-supported reagents and scavengers
Current Organic Chemistry
(2005)
9
1521
(doi: 10.2174/138527205774370513)
A versatile organocatalyst for the asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to enones.
Chemical Communications
(2005)
5346
(doi: 10.1039/b511441a)
A highly selective, organocatalytic route to chiral dihydro-1,2-oxazines.
Organic letters
(2005)
7
4189
(doi: 10.1021/ol051577u)
Total Synthesis of Spongistatin 1: A Synthetic Strategy Exploiting Its Latent Pseudo‐Symmetry
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
(2005)
44
5433
(doi: 10.1002/anie.200502008)
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