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

Preparation and use of tetra-n-butylammonium per-ruthenate (TBAP reagent) and tetra-n-propylammonium per-ruthenate (TPAP reagent) as new catalytic oxidants for alcohols
WP Griffith, SV Ley, GP Whitcombe, AD White
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1987)
Use of S-t-butyl acetothioacetate in the preparation of milbemycin seco-analogues
T Clarke, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1987)
PREPARATION OF TERT-BUTYL 4-DIETHYLPHOSPHONO-3-OXOBUTANETHIOATE AND USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF (E)-4-ALKENYL-3-OXOESTERS AND MACROLIDES
SV Ley, PR Woodward
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
DEVELOPMENT OF A SYNTHETIC ROUTE TOWARDS MILBEMYCIN-BETA-1 - PREPARATION OF AN ADVANCED MODEL SYSTEM
NJ Anthony, P Grice, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
The use of β-ketothioesters for the exceptionally mild preparation of β-ketoamides
SV Ley, PR Woodward
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
A conformational study of bafilomycin A1 by x-ray crystallography and nmr techniques
GH Baker, PJ Brown, RJJ Dorgan, JR Everett, SV Ley, AMZ Slawin, DJ Williams
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
Synthesis of the monocyclic nonaromatic C-1 to C-10 fragments of the milbemycins and avermectins.
NJ Anthony, T Clarke, AB Jones, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
SYNTHESIS OF A NOVEL 3,4-DIHYDROMILBEMYCIN ANALOG
C Greck, P Grice, AB Jones, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
MICROBIAL OXIDATION IN SYNTHESIS - A 6 STEP PREPARATION OF (+/-)-PINITOL FROM BENZENE
SV Ley, F Sternfeld, S Taylor
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28
Synthesis of a hydroxy dihydrofuran acetal related to azadirachtin: A potent insect antifeedant
SV Ley, D Santafianos, WM Blaney, MSJ Simmonds
Tetrahedron Letters
(1987)
28

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address