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
Reaction of tetracycline hydrochloride with N-chlorosuccinimide: X-ray crystal structure of the major product
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1977)
790
(doi: 10.1039/c39770000790)
Removal of 1,3-dithiolan protecting groups by benzeneseleninic anhydride
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1977)
751
(doi: 10.1039/c39770000751)
Formation of lactones from dienes via iron carbonyl complexes
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1977)
581
(doi: 10.1039/c39770000581)
Regeneration of ketones from hydrazones, oximes, and semicarbazones by benzeneseleninic anhydride
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1977)
445
(doi: 10.1039/C39770000445)
ELECTROPHILIC FLUORINATION OF ACTIVATED OLEFINS - SYNTHESIS OF 6-FLUORO-CORTICOSTEROIDS
NOUVEAU JOURNAL DE CHIMIE-NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(1977)
1
315
Experiments on the synthesis of tetracycline. Part 15. Oxidation of phenols and ring A model phenols to o -hydroxy-dienones with benzeneseleninic anhydride
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1977)
567
(doi: 10.1039/p19770000567)
Oxidation of phenols to ortho -quinones using diphenylseleninic anhydride
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1976)
985
(doi: 10.1039/c39760000985)
The stability of NN-dialkylthiohydroxylamines
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1975)
855
(doi: 10.1039/C39750000855)
Rearrangement Reactions of Bicyclic Systems. Part IV. Acid-catalysed Rearrangements of 5,6,7,8-Tetrafluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-methoxy-3,9-dimethyl-l,4-ethenonaphthalene (1-methoxy-3,5-dimethyltetrafluoro benzobarrelene)
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1974)
2711
(doi: 10.1039/P19740002711)
Aryne chemistry. Part XXXIII. Reactions of tetrahalogenobenzynes with methoxyarenes and the photolysis and thermolysis of some of the products
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1974)
2681
(doi: 10.1039/p19740002681)
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