Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci | Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

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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 last 10 years we have completed the total synthesis of 28 natural products including spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent), rapamycin (immunosuppressant), thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor), azadirachtin (insect antifeedant) and bengazole A (fungicide), taking our group total to 150 completed total syntheses. In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also have a new state-of-the-art flow chemistry facility.

For more detailed research information, group members and our publication list please see the group website.

Publications

Tagged phosphine reagents to assist reaction work-up by phase-switched scavenging using a modular flow reactor.

CD Smith, IR Baxendale, GK Tranmer, M Baumann, SC Smith, RA Lewthwaite, SV Ley

– Org Biomol Chem

(2007)

5,

1562

(doi: 10.1039/b703033a)

A fascination with 1,2-diacetals.

SV Ley, A Polara

– The Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2007)

72,

5943

(doi: 10.1021/jo0703451)

Continuous flow ligand-free Heck reactions using monolithic Pd [0] nanoparticles

N Nikbin, M Ladlow, SV Ley

– Organic Process Research & Development

(2007)

11,

458

(doi: 10.1021/op7000436)

Natural product synthesis: A stimulus for discovery

SV Ley

– ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2007)

233,

(link to publication)

Influence of microwave irradiation on the reaction of MgO and Al2O3 slurries to form layered double hydroxide

SJ Mitchell, IR Baxendale, W Jones

– ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S

(2007)

233,

205

(link to publication)

Design and total synthesis of unnatural analogues of the sub-nanomolar SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin.

SP Andrews, MM Tait, M Ball, SV Ley

– Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2007)

5,

1427

(doi: 10.1039/b702481a)

Optimisation of Conditions for O‐Benzyl and N‐Benzyloxycarbonyl Protecting Group Removal using an Automated Flow Hydrogenator

KR Knudsen, J Holden, SV Ley, M Ladlow

– Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis

(2007)

349,

535

(doi: 10.1002/adsc.200600558)

Chemical Variation of Natural‐Product‐Like Scaffolds: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Fused Bicyclic Acetal Derivatives

L-G Milroy, G Zinzalla, G Prencipe, P Michel, SV Ley, M Gunaratnam, M Beltran, S Neidle

– Angewandte Chemie International Edition

(2007)

46,

2493

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200604688)

Identification of a putative azadirachtin-binding complex from Drosophila Kc167 cells

SL Robertson, W Ni, TS Dhadialla, AJ Nisbet, C McCusker, SV Ley, W Mordue, AJ Mordue 'Luntz'

– Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

(2007)

64,

200

(doi: 10.1002/arch.20171)

Fully automated flow-through synthesis of secondary sulfonamides in a binary reactor system

CM Griffiths-Jones, MD Hopkin, D Jönsson, SV Ley, DJ Tapolczay, E Vickerstaffe, M Ladlow

– Journal of combinatorial chemistry

(2007)

9,

422

(doi: 10.1021/cc060152b)