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

The first Lewis acid-catalyzed allylboronate additions to aldehydes
DEA Brittain, SV Ley
Chemtracts
(2004)
17
Enantioselective Organocatalytic Cyclopropanation via Ammonium Ylides
CD Papageorgiou, MA Cubillo de Dios, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2004)
43
(doi: 10.1002/anie.200460234)
The preparation and alkylation of a butanedione-derived chiral glycine equivalent and its use for the synthesis of alpha-amino acids and alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids
CI Harding, DJ Dixon, SV Ley
Tetrahedron
(2004)
60
(doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2004.06.063)
Synthesis of the C-1/C-15 spiroketal fragment (AB) of spongistatin 1.
P Orsini, SV Ley, AS Jessiman, MJ Gaunt
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2004)
228
A concise total synthesis of (+)-okaramine C
PR Hewitt, E Cleator, SV Ley
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry
(2004)
2
(doi: 10.1039/B410180D)
5-Pyrrolidin-2-yltetrazole as an asymmetric organocatalyst for the addition of ketones to nitro-olefins.
AJA Cobb, DA Longbottom, DM Shaw, SV Ley
Chem Commun (Camb)
(2004)
10
(doi: 10.1039/b409646k)
Synthesis of the thapsigargins
SV Ley, A Antonello, EP Balskus, DT Booth, SB Christensen, E Cleator, H Gold, K Högenauer, U Hünger, RM Myers, SF Oliver, O Simic, MD Smith, H Søhoel, AJA Woolford
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
(2004)
101
(doi: 10.1073/pnas.0403300101)
Multi-step application of immobilized reagents and scavengers: A total synthesis of epothilone C
RI Storer, T Takemoto, PS Jackson, DS Brown, IR Baxendale, SV Ley
Chemistry – A European Journal
(2004)
10
(doi: 10.1002/chem.200305669)
An intramolecular organocatalytic cyclopropanation reaction.
N Bremeyer, SC Smith, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2004)
43
(doi: 10.1002/anie.200454007)
Evolving cascades: The Claisen rearrangement in the development of tandem sequences of three or more reactions
BL Gray, SV Ley
Chemtracts
(2004)
17

Research Group

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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
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