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

Towards the synthesis of the C37-C42 fragment of rapamycin: intramolecular reactions of allyl silanes with oxonium ions generated from α-alkoxy sulfones.
SV Ley, C Kouklovsky
Tetrahedron
(1994)
50
NOVEL POLYENE CYCLIZATION ROUTES TO THE ACYL TETRONIC ACID IONOPHORE TETRONASIN (ICI M139603)
G-J Boons, IC Lennon, SV Ley, ESE Owen, J Staunton, DJ Wadsworth
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
2 NEW ROUTES TO THE C19-C26 TETRAHYDROFURAN FRAGMENT OF THE ACYL TETRONIC ACID IONOPHORE TETRONASIN (ICI M139603)
G-J Boons, DS Brown, JA Clase, IC Lennon, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
Biosynthesis of tetronasin: Part 1 introduction and investigation of the diketide and triketide intermediates bound to the polyketide synthase
HC Hailes, CM Jackson, PF Leadlay, SV Ley, J Staunton
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
BIOSYNTHESIS OF TETRONASIN .2. IDENTIFICATION OF THE TETRAKETIDE INTERMEDIATE ATTACHED TO THE POLYKETIDE SYNTHASE
HC Hailes, S Handa, PF Leadlay, IC Lennon, SV Ley, J Staunton
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
BIOSYNTHESIS OF TETRONASIN .3. PREPARATION OF DEUTERIUM-LABELED TRIKETIDES AND TETRAKETIDES AS PUTATIVE BIOSYNTHETIC PRECURSORS OF TETRONASIN
HC Hailes, S Handa, PF Leadlay, IC Lennon, SV Ley, J Staunton
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 6): Highly stereoselective alkylation of dispiroketal protected lactate and glycolate enolates
R Downham, KS Kim, SV Ley, M Woods
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
DISPIROKETALS IN SYNTHESIS .7. PROTECTION OF D-GLUCOPYRANOSE SUBSTRATES
AB Hughes, SV Ley, HWM Priepke, M Woods
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 8): Regioselective protection of D-glucopyranose substrates
DA Entwistle, AB Hughes, SV Ley, G Visentin
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
Diastereoselective addition reactions to carbonyl groups in the side-chain of π-allytricarbonyliron lactone complexes
SV Ley, G Meek, K-H Metten, C Pique
Chemical Communications
(1994)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address