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
SV Ley, M Mahon
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1983)
SYNTHESIS OF METHYL-1,6-DIOXASPIRO[4,5]DECANES USING ORGANOSELENIUM MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS
SV Ley, B Lygo
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
A short syntesis of (±)-hirsutene involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
SV Ley, PJ Murray
Journal of the Chemical Society Series Chemical Communications
(1982)
AN UNEXPECTED REARRANGEMENT OF 4-ALKYLAMINOINDOLES
SV Ley, RA Porter
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1982)
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
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, SV Ley, DJ Williams
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1982)
Thermal rearrangement reactions of tricarbonyliron lactone complexes
GD Annis, SV Ley, CR Self, R Sivaramakrishnan, DJ Williams
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1982)
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
SV Ley, D Neuhaus, DJ Williams
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
Synthesis of (cis-6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
SV Ley, B Lygo, H Molines, JA Morton
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1982)
The X-ray structure and absolute configuration of insect antifeedant clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium africanum
JR Hanson, DEA Rivett, SV Ley, DJ Williams
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
Oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons with benzeneseleninic anhydride and related reactions
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address