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 last 10 years we have completed the total synthesis of 28 natural products including spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent), rapamycin (immunosuppressant), thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor), azadirachtin (insect antifeedant) and bengazole A (fungicide), taking our group total to 150 completed total syntheses. In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also have a new state-of-the-art flow chemistry facility.

For more detailed research information, group members and our publication list please see the group website.

Publications

Combinatorial Synthesis of Natural Product-Based Libraries

SV Ley, IR Baxendale, RM Myers

(2006)

131

(doi: 10.1201/9781420009279)

Asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition of malonates to enones using a proline tetrazole catalyst

KR Knudsen, CET Mitchell, SV Ley

– Chem. Commun.

(2005)

(doi: 10.1039/b514636d)

Defects in signal transduction caused by a T cell receptor β chain substitution

TA RENO, S LEY, E SUGIYAMA, A CANTAGREL, R BLUMBERG, J BONVENTRE, C TERHORST, ETH YEH

– European Journal of Immunology

(2005)

20,

1417

(doi: 10.1002/eji.1830200702)

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)

4095

(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

– J Med Chem

(2005)

48,

7005

(doi: 10.1021/jm058036v)