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 Diels–Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal
DM Hollinshead, SC Howell, SV Ley, M Mahon, NM Ratcliffe, PA Worthington
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
STEREOCHEMISTRY OF A 5,5,10-TRIMETHYL-2-DECALONE BY PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE - A NEW APPLICATION OF INDOR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY
SV LEY, AJ WHITTLE, GE HAWKES
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH-S
(1983)
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
GD Annis, EM Hebblethwaite, ST Hodgson, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1
(1983)
A practical catalytic method for the preparation of steroidal 1,4-dien-3-ones by oxygen atom transfer from iodoxybenzene to diphenyl diselenide
DHR Barton, CRA Godfrey, JW Morzycki, WB Motherwell, SV Ley
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1982)
Synthesis of polyoxygenated trans -decalins as potential insect antifeedants
SV Ley, D Neuhaus, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
Synthesis of (cis-6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
SV Ley, B Lygo, H Molines, JA Morton
Journal of the Chemical Society Series Chemical Communications
(1982)
Dehydrogenation of lactones using benzeneseleninic anhydride. X-ray crystal structure of 3β-acetoxy-14α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androst- 15-en-17-one
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, SV Ley, DJ Williams
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1982)
Oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons with benzeneseleninic anhydride and related reactions
DHR Barton, RAHF Hui, SV Ley
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1982)
SYNTHESIS OF METHYL-1,6-DIOXASPIRO[4,5]DECANES USING ORGANOSELENIUM MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS
SV Ley, B Lygo
Tetrahedron Letters
(1982)
23
The X-ray structure and absolute configuration of insect antifeedant clerodane diterpenoids from Teucrium africanum
JR Hanson, DEA Rivett, SV Ley, DJ Williams
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1982)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address