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

The Bestmann ylide as a multi-purpose wittig reagent
J Habermann, SV Ley
Chemtracts
(2001)
14
Both mosquito-derived xanthurenic acid and a host blood-derived factor regulate gametogenesis of Plasmodium in the midgut of the mosquito
M Arai, O Billker, HR Morris, M Panico, M Delcroix, D Dixon, SV Ley, RE Sinden
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
(2001)
116
Butane-2,3-Diacetal-Desymmetrized Glycolic Acid-A New Building Block for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Enantiopure α-Hydroxy Acids.
E Díez, DJ Dixon, SV Ley
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2001)
40
Development and application of a carbonyl-(13)C-enriched backbone amide linker for solid-phase reaction monitoring.
C Jamieson, MS Congreve, PR Hewitt, JJ Scicinski, SV Ley
Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry
(2001)
3
Solid-Phase Development of a 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole Linker for Heterocycle Synthesis Using Analytical Constructs
JJ Scicinski, MS Congreve, C Jamieson, SV Ley, ES Newman, VM Vinader, RA Carr
Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry
(2001)
3
New catalysts for olefin metathesis
M Scholl, S Ding, CW Lee, RH Grubbs, PE Brennan, SV Ley, AK Chatterjee, JP Morgan
Chemtracts
(2001)
14
Studies toward the total synthesis of rapamycin.
SV Ley, PE Brennan
ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S
(2001)
221
Approaches to the total synthesis of antascomicin A.
SV Ley, DEA Brittain, JS Barlow, MD Smith, K Yasuda
ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S
(2001)
221
A new phase-switch method for application in organic synthesis programs employing immobilization through metal-chelated tagging
SV Ley, A Massi, F Rodríguez, DC Horwell, RA Lewthwaite, MC Pritchard, AM Reid
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2001)
40
A polymer -supported thionating reagent
SV Ley, AG Leach, RI Storer
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(2001)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address