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
Chemistry of insect antifeedants from azadirachta indica (part 8): Synthesis of hydroxydihydrofuran acetal fragments for biological evaluation and azadirachtin total synthesis studies.
Tetrahedron
(1991)
47
6813
Synthesis of the β-lactone esterase inhibitor valilactone using π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes.
Tetrahedron Letters
(1991)
32
2651
Use of phenylsulphonylmethano ethers in synthesis: A new versatile route to substituted cyclic ethers
Synlett
(1991)
1991
415
(doi: 10.1055/s-1991-20747)
Total synthesis of the anthelmintic macrolide avermectin B1a
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1991)
667
(doi: 10.1039/p19910000667)
SYNTHESIS OF TETRAHYDROPYRAN-CONTAINING NATURAL-PRODUCTS
HETEROCYCLES IN BIO-ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(1991)
1
NOVEL ROUTES TO INOSITOL PHOSPHATES USING PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA OXIDATION OF ARENES
INOSITOL PHOSPHATES AND DERIVATIVES
(1991)
463
132
NOVEL ROUTES TO INOSITOL PHOSPHATES USING PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA OXIDATION OF ARENES
ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES
(1991)
463
132
Use of 2-phenylsulphonyl cyclic ethers in the preparation of tetrahydropyran and tetrahydrofuran acetals and in some glycosidation reactions.
Tetrahedron
(1991)
47
1329
Substitution reactions of 2-phenylsulphonyl-piperidines and -pyrrolidines with carbon nucleophiles: Synthesis of the pyrrolidine alkaloids norruspoline and ruspolinone
Tetrahedron
(1991)
47
1311
SYNTHESIS OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS
PESTICIDE CHEMISTRY : ADVANCES IN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND LEGISLATION
(1991)
97
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