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 total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I
Chemical Communications
(1983)
503
(doi: 10.1039/c39830000503)
Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids
Tetrahedron Letters
(1983)
24
5143
Total synthesis of the structurally unique ionophore antibiotic X–14547 A
Chemical Communications
(1983)
630
(doi: 10.1039/C39830000630)
Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1983)
1281
(doi: 10.1039/c39830001281)
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
2851
(doi: 10.1039/p19830002851)
A short syntesis of (±)-hirsutene involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1982)
1252
(doi: 10.1039/c39820001252)
SYNTHESIS OF (CIS-6-METHYLTETRAHYDROPYRAN-2-YL)ACETIC ACID INVOLVING THE USE OF AN ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTION
Journal of the Chemical Society Series Chemical Communications
(1982)
1251
(doi: 10.1039/C39820001251)
Oxidation of benzylic hydrocarbons with benzeneseleninic anhydride and related reactions
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1982)
2179
(doi: 10.1039/p19820002179)
An unexpected rearrangement of 4-alkylaminoindoles
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1982)
1356
(doi: 10.1039/c39820001356)
DEHYDROGENATION OF LACTONES USING BENZENESELENINIC ANHYDRIDE - X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF 3-BETA-ACETOXY-14-ALPHA-HYDROXY-17A-OXA-D-HOMO-5-ALPHA-ANDROST-15-EN-17-ONE
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1982)
1919
(doi: 10.1039/p19820001919)
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