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

Preparation of enantiopure butane-2,3-diacetals of glycolic acid and alkylation reactions leading to α-hydroxyacid and amide derivatives

SV Ley, E Diez, DJ Dixon, RT Guy, P Michel, GL Nattrass, TD Sheppard

– Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2004)

3608

(doi: 10.1039/b412788a)

The first Lewis acid-catalyzed allylboronate additions to aldehydes

DEA Brittain, SV Ley

– Chemtracts

(2004)

17,

620

Enantioselective organocatalytic cyclopropanation via ammonium ylides.

CD Papageorgiou, MA Cubillo de Dios, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt

– Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

(2004)

43,

4641

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200460234)

The preparation and alkylation of a butanedione-derived chiral glycine equivalent and its use for the synthesis of α-amino acids and α,α-disubstituted amino acids

CI Harding, DJ Dixon, SV Ley

– Tetrahedron

(2004)

60,

7679

(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,

U77

(link to publication)

A concise total synthesis of (+)-okaramine C.

PR Hewitt, E Cleator, SV Ley

– Org Biomol Chem

(2004)

2415

(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,

1808

(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

– Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

(2004)

101,

12073

(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,

2529

(doi: 10.1002/chem.200305669)

An Intramolecular Organocatalytic Cyclopropanation Reaction

N Bremeyer, SC Smith, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt

– Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

(2004)

43,

2681

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200454007)

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