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
NOVEL REARRANGEMENT OF THE IONOPHORE ANTIBIOTIC X-14547A (INDANOMYCIN) AND RELATED DERIVATIVES INDUCED BY LITHIUM TETRAFLUOROBORATE
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
1761
(doi: 10.1039/p19840001761)
A NEW ROUTE TO SPIRO-KETALS USING THE HORNER-WITTIG REACTION OF 2-DIPHENYLPHOSPHINOXY CYCLIC ETHERS
Tetrahedron Letters
(1984)
25
113
SYNTHESIS OF (+/-)-CIS-6-METHYLTETRAHYDROPYRAN-2-YLACETIC ACID, A NATURAL PRODUCT FROM VIVERRA-CIVETTA, USING ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1984)
2403
(doi: 10.1039/p19840002403)
The use of 3-acetoxy-1-trimethylsilylbutadiene in the synthesis of anthracyclinone derivatives
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
1847
(doi: 10.1039/p19840001847)
Synthesis of the spiroacetal unit related to the avermectins and milbemycins
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1984)
1381
(doi: 10.1039/c39840001381)
π-Allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in synthesis: application to the synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)-thienamycin
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1984)
494
(doi: 10.1039/c39840000494)
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1983)
2851
(doi: 10.1039/p19830002851)
The Diels-Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1983)
1579
(doi: 10.1039/p19830001579)
Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids
Tetrahedron Letters
(1983)
24
5143
Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
1379
(doi: 10.1039/p19830001379)
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