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

Total synthesis of iso- and bongkrekic acids: natural antibiotics displaying potent antiapoptotic properties.
A Français, A Leyva-Pérez, G Etxebarria-Jardi, J Peña, SV Ley
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
(2010)
17
Trapping of palindromic ligands within native transthyretin prevents amyloid formation.
SE Kolstoe, PP Mangione, V Bellotti, GW Taylor, GA Tennent, S Deroo, AJ Morrison, AJA Cobb, A Coyne, MG McCammon, TD Warner, J Mitchell, R Gill, MD Smith, SV Ley, CV Robinson, SP Wood, MB Pepys
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(2010)
107
Microwave and flow syntheses of Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) and analogues
JT Hodgkinson, WRJD Galloway, S Saraf, IR Baxendale, SV Ley, M Ladlow, M Welch, DR Spring
Org. Biomol. Chem.
(2010)
9
Total syntheses of subereamollines A and B.
JW Shearman, RM Myers, JD Brenton, SV Ley
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
(2010)
9
Preparation of arylsulfonyl chlorides by chlorosulfonylation of in situ generated diazonium salts using a continuous flow reactor
L Malet-Sanz, J Madrzak, SV Ley, IR Baxendale
Org Biomol Chem
(2010)
8
A continuous flow process using a sequence of microreactors with in-line IR analysis for the preparation of N,N-diethyl-4-(3-fluorophenylpiperidin-4- ylidenemethyl)benzamide as a potent and highly selective δ-opioid receptor agonist
Z Qian, IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Chemistry A European Journal
(2010)
16
Total syntheses of the bromotyrosine-derived natural products ianthelline, 5-bromoverongamine and JBIR-44
JW Shearman, RM Myers, TM Beale, JD Brenton, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(2010)
51
Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 16): Functionalised dispiroketals as new chiral auxiliaries; the synthesis of dihydroxylated dispiroketals in optically pure form and their application as bifunctional, C2‐symmetrical, chiral auxiliaries for highly stereoselective Michael additions
BCB Bezuidenhoudt, GH Castle, JE Innes, SV Ley
Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas
(2010)
114
Antivascular and anticancer activity of dihalogenated A-ring analogues of combretastatin A-4
TM Beale, RM Myers, JW Shearman, DS Charnock-Jones, JD Brenton, FV Gergely, SV Ley
MedChemComm
(2010)
1
New Routes to Biologically Active Heterocyclic Natural Products
SV Ley
Bulletin Des Societes Chimiques Belges
(2010)
101

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address