Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry

Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

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

Michael, Michael-aldol and Michael-Michael reactions of enolate equivalents of butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives.
SV Ley, DJ Dixon, RT Guy, F Rodríguez, TD Sheppard
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
(2005)
3
(doi: 10.1039/b512410g)
Evolution or Revolution: The Challenge to the Modern Medicinal Chemist
IR Baxendale, SV Ley
(2005)
Total synthesis of two novel subpicomolar sarco/endoplasmatic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors designed by an analysis of the binding site of thapsigargin.
H Søhoel, T Liljefors, SV Ley, SF Oliver, A Antonello, MD Smith, CE Olsen, JT Isaacs, SB Christensen
Journal of medicinal chemistry
(2005)
48
(doi: 10.1021/jm058036v)
Synthesis of Alkaloid Natural Products Using Solid-Supported Reagents and Scavengers
I Baxendale, S Ley
Current Organic Chemistry
(2005)
9
(doi: 10.2174/138527205774370513)
A versatile organocatalyst for the asymmetric conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to enones
CET Mitchell, SE Brenner, SV Ley
Chem Commun (Camb)
(2005)
(doi: 10.1039/b511441a)
Quaternary Stereocenters
P Nolan
(2005)
(doi: 10.1002/3527606858)
A highly selective, organocatalytic route to chiral dihydro-1,2-oxazines
S Kumarn, DM Shaw, DA Longbottom, SV Ley
Organic letters
(2005)
7
(doi: 10.1021/ol051577u)
Total Synthesis of Spongistatin 1: A Synthetic Strategy Exploiting Its Latent Pseudo‐Symmetry
M Ball, MJ Gaunt, DF Hook, AS Jessiman, S Kawahara, P Orsini, A Scolaro, AC Talbot, HR Tanner, S Yamanoi, SV Ley
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
(2005)
44
(doi: 10.1002/anie.200502008)
Synthesis of the EF Fragment of Spongistatin 1
SV Ley, S Kawahara, MJ Gaunt, A Scolaro, S Yamanoi
Synlett
(2005)
(doi: 10.1055/s-2005-871960)
Non-metal-catalysed intramolecular alkyne cyclotrimerization reactions promoted by focussed microwave heating in batch and flow modes.
S Saaby, IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Organic & biomolecular chemistry
(2005)
3
(doi: 10.1039/b509540a)

Research Group

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address

svl1000@cam.ac.uk

College

Trinity College
Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry
Lensfield Road
Cambridge
CB2 1EW
T: +44 (0) 1223 336300
enquiries@ch.cam.ac.uk
Contacts
Directions

Privacy and cookie policy

About the Department

Departmental Services

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge