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
Continuous Flow Hydration of Pyrazine-2-carbonitrile in a Manganese Dioxide Column Reactor
Organic Syntheses
(2018)
94
34
(doi: 10.1002/0471264229.os094.03)
Mimicking the surface and prebiotic chemistry of early Earth using flow chemistry
Nat Commun
(2018)
9
1821
(doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04147-2)
The Engineering of Chemical Synthesis: Humans and Machines Working in Harmony.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2018)
57
5182
(doi: 10.1002/anie.201802383)
Editorial: Harmonische Zusammenarbeit von Mensch und Maschine in der chemischen Synthese
Angewandte Chemie
(2018)
130
5278
(doi: 10.1002/ange.201802383)
Diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized indolines using in situ generated allyl boronic species.
Synlett
(2018)
29
825
(doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1589164)
Rapid, selective and stable HaloTag-LbADH immobilization directly from crude cell extract for the continuous biocatalytic production of chiral alcohols and epoxides
Reaction Chemistry & Engineering
(2018)
3
8
(doi: 10.1039/c7re00173h)
Preparation of homoallylic amines via a three-component coupling process
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
(2018)
16
6652
(doi: 10.1039/C8OB01831F)
Real-time spectroscopic analysis enabling quantitative and safe consumption of fluoroform during nucleophilic trifluoromethylation in flow.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
(2018)
6
1489
Organic photocatalysis for the radical couplings of boronic acid derivatives in batch and flow
Chem Commun (Camb)
(2018)
54
5606
(doi: 10.1039/c8cc02169d)
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