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

Azadirachtin: structural requirements for reducing growth and increasing mortality in lepidopterous larvae.
MSJ Simmonds, WM Blaney, SV Ley, JC Anderson, PL Toogood
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
(1990)
55
Alkenylcyclic sulphites as novel precursors for the preparation of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes
M Caruso*, J Knight, S Ley
Synlett
(1990)
1990
Microbial oxidation in synthesis: preparation of myo-inositol phosphates and related cyclitol derivatives from benzene
SV Ley, M Parra, AJ Redgrave, F Sternfeld
Tetrahedron
(1990)
46
TPAP: Tetra-n-propylammonium perruthenate, a mild and convenient oxidant for alcohols
WP Griffith, SV Ley
Aldrichimica Acta
(1990)
23
Neo-clerodane insect antifeedants from Scutellaria galericulata
MD Cole, JC Anderson, WM Blaney, LE Fellows, SV Ley, RN Sheppard, MSJ Simmonds
Phytochemistry
(1990)
29
INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS
SV LEY, PL TOOGOOD
CHEM BRIT
(1990)
26
ASSESSMENT OF BUTENE-1,4-DIOLS AS STARTING MATERIALS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PI-ALLYLTRICARBONYLIRON COMPLEXES
RW Bates, D Díez-Martín, WJ Kerr, JG Knight, SV Ley, A Sakellaridis
Tetrahedron
(1990)
46
SYNTHESIS OF ANTIFEEDANTS FOR INSECTS - NOVEL BEHAVIOR-MODIFYING CHEMICALS FROM PLANTS
SV LEY
CIBA FOUNDATION SYMPOSIA
(1990)
154
Synthesis of the C12–C26 fragment of the acyltetronic acid lonophore antibiotic tetronasin (ici 139603)
SE de Laszlo, MJ Ford, SV Ley, GN Maw
Tetrahedron Letters
(1990)
31
Enantioselective synthesis of the C3-C11 hydrocarbon fragment of the ionophore antibiotic tetronasin (ici 139603).
SV Ley, GN Maw, ML Trudell
Tetrahedron Letters
(1990)
31

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address