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
Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1983)
1379
(doi: 10.1039/p19830001379)
SYNTHESIS OF METHYL-1,6-DIOXASPIRO[4,5]DECANES USING ORGANOSELENIUM MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
4625
A short syntesis of (±)-hirsutene involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
Journal of the Chemical Society Series Chemical Communications
(1982)
1252
(doi: 10.1039/c39820001252)
AN UNEXPECTED REARRANGEMENT OF 4-ALKYLAMINOINDOLES
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1982)
1356
(doi: 10.1039/c39820001356)
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
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1982)
1919
(doi: 10.1039/p19820001919)
Thermal rearrangement reactions of tricarbonyliron lactone complexes
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1982)
1355
(doi: 10.1039/p19820001355)
A CONFORMATIONAL STUDY OF ELAIOPHYLIN BY X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND DIFFERENCE H-1-NMR METHODS - OBSERVATION OF A SELECTIVE SIGN REVERSAL OF THE NUCLEAR OVERHAUSER EFFECT
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
1207
Synthesis of (cis-6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1982)
1251
(doi: 10.1039/C39820001251)
The X-ray structure and absolute configuration of insect antifeedant clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium africanum
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
1005
(doi: 10.1039/p19820001005)
Oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons with benzeneseleninic anhydride and related reactions
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
2179
(doi: 10.1039/p19820002179)
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