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

ORGN 121-Toward the total synthesis of azadirachtin
A Boyer, E Beckmann, GE Veitch, BJ Burke, SV Ley
ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S
(2007)
234
Chiral glycolate equivalents for the asymmetric synthesis of α-hydroxycarbonyl compounds
SV Ley, TD Sheppard, RM Myers, MS Chorghade
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan
(2007)
80
Flow and batch mode focused microwave synthesis of 5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles and their further conversion to 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidines
CJ Smith, FJ Iglesias-Sigüenza, IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Organic & biomolecular chemistry
(2007)
5
Total synthesis of five thapsigargins: Guaianolide natural products exhibiting sub-nanomolar SERCA inhibition
SP Andrews, M Ball, F Wierschem, E Cleator, S Oliver, K Högenauer, O Simic, A Antonello, U Hünger, MD Smith, SV Ley
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
(2007)
13
Total synthesis of potent antifungal marine bisoxazole natural products bengazoles A and B.
JA Bull, EP Balskus, RAJ Horan, M Langner, SV Ley
Chemistry
(2007)
13
Pharmaceutical Strategy and Innovation: An Academics Perspective
IR Baxendale, JJ Hayward, SV Ley, GK Tranmer
ChemMedChem
(2007)
2
(S)- And (R)-5-Pyrrolidin-2-yl-1H-tetrazoles: Enantiomeric organocatalysts of broad utility in organic synthesis
DA Longbottom, V Franckevičius, SV Ley
CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry
(2007)
61
Solid Supported Reagents in Multi-Step Flow Synthesis
IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Ernst Schering Foundation symposium proceedings
(2007)
3
Chromatography-free suzuki reactions using a Polymer-Assisted Solution-Phase (PASP) approach
S Ley, E Vickerstaffe, A-L Villard, M Ladlow
Synlett
(2007)
2007
A microcapillary flow disc reactor for organic synthesis
CH Hornung, MR Mackley, IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Organic Process Research & Development
(2007)
11

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address