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
Total Synthesis of the Carboxylic Acid Ionophore Antibiotic CP-61,405 (Routiennocin)
Synlett
(1992)
1992
395
(doi: 10.1055/s-1992-21357)
Microbial Oxidation in Synthesis: Preparation of Pseudo-α-D-glucopyranose from Benzene
Synlett
(1992)
1992
291
(doi: 10.1055/s-1992-21342)
FURTHER REACTIONS OF TERT-BUTYL 3-OXOBUTANTHIOATE AND TERT-BUTYL 4-DIETHYL-PHOSPHONO-3-OXOBUTANTHIOATE - CARBONYL COUPLING REACTIONS, AMINATION, USE IN THE PREPARATION OF 3-ACYLTETRAMIC ACIDS AND APPLICATION TO THE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF FULIGORUBIN-A
Tetrahedron
(1992)
48
1145
ENABLING METHODOLOGY - THE SYNTHETIC CHEMISTS CONTRIBUTION TO MOLECULAR RECOGNITION
MOLECULAR RECOGNITION : CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROBLEMS II
(1992)
111
183
Dispiroketals in synthesis: Preparation of a stable, sterically demanding glyceraldehyde ketal and diastereoselective reactions with simple organometallic reagents
Synthesis
(1992)
1992
52
(doi: 10.1055/s-1992-34153)
Chemistry of insect antifeedants from Azadirachta indica (part 13): on the use of the intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction for the construction of trans -fused hydrobenzofuran fragments for azadirachtin synthesis
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1992)
2763
(doi: 10.1039/p19920002763)
The use of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in the synthesis of the β-lactone esterase inhibitor (−)-valilactone.
Tetrahedron
(1991)
47
9929
Synthesis of the alkaloids (−)-heliotridane and (−)-isoretronecanol via π-allyltricarbonyliron lactam complexes.
Tetrahedron Letters
(1991)
32
7119
(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(91)85056-b)
CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .2. CHARACTERIZATION AND STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY-RELATIONSHIPS OF SOME NOVEL REARRANGED AZADIRACHTINS
Tetrahedron
(1991)
47
9231
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