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
DIRECT SUBSTITUTION OF 2-BENZENESULFONYL CYCLIC ETHERS USING ORGANOZINC REAGENTS
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
4869
PREPARATION OF CYCLIC ETHER ACETALS FROM 2-BENZENESULFONYL DERIVATIVES - A NEW MILD GLYCOSIDATION PROCEDURE
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
4873
Microbial oxidation in synthesis: Preparation from benzene of the cellular secondary messenger myo-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and related derivatives
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
5305
Chemistry of insect antifeedants from (part 1): Conversion from the azadirachtin to the azadirachtinin skeletons
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
1849
CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .2. SYNTHESIS OF A POLYOXYGENATED DECALIN WITH LIMONOID STRUCTURAL HOMOLOGY
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
1853
CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA INDICA .3. REACTIONS ON THE C-22,23 ENOL ETHER DOUBLE-BOND OF AZADIRACHTIN AND CONVERSION TO 22,23-DIHYDRO-23-BETA-METHOXYAZADIRACHTIN
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
5433
USE OF TERT-BUTYL 4-DIETHYLPHOSPHONO-3-OXOBUTANETHIOATE FOR TETRAMIC ACID SYNTHESIS - TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF THE PLASMODIAL PIGMENT FULIGORUBIN-A
Tetrahedron Letters
(1988)
29
5829
1-BENZYLINDOLE
ORG SYNTH
(1988)
50-9
104
Activity of drimane antifeedants and related compounds against aphids, and comparative biological effects and chemical reactivity of (?)- and (+)-polygodial
Journal of Chemical Ecology
(1988)
14
1845
(doi: 10.1007/BF01013481)
PREPARATION OF TERT-BUTYL ACETOTHIOACETATE AND USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF 3-ACETYL-4-HYDROXY-5,5-DIMETHYLFURAN-2(5H)-ONE
ORGANIC SYNTHESES
(1988)
66
108
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