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
Total synthesis of the insect antifeedant ajugarin I and degradation studies of related clerodane diterpenes
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
6519
ALKYLATION REACTIONS OF ANIONS DERIVED FROM 2-BENZENESULFONYL TETRAHYDROPYRAN AND THEIR APPLICATION TO SPIROKETAL SYNTHESIS
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
4333
Ultrasonic formation and reactions of sodium phenylselenide
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
5363
Natural product synthesis using π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes: Synthesis of parasorbic acid, the carpenter bee pheromone and malyngolide
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
(1985)
285
C17
(doi: 10.1016/0022-328x(85)87394-0)
ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLISATION REACTIONS IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS.
Chemistry and Industry London
(1985)
101
PREPARATION AND REACTIONS OF 2-BENZENESULPHONYLTETRAHYDROPYRAN
Tetrahedron Letters
(1985)
26
535
SYNTHETIC APPLICATIONS OF YNES, ENES AND ONES - ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS
CHEMISTRY & INDUSTRY
(1985)
101
The use of t-butyl acetothioacetate as a route to bis-β-ketomacrolides
Chemical Communications
(1985)
1805
(doi: 10.1039/c39850001805)
WITTIG AND HORNER-WITTIG COUPLING REACTIONS OF 2-SUBSTITUTED CYCLIC ETHERS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO SPIROKETAL SYNTHESIS
Tetrahedron
(1985)
41
3825
Preparation of vinylic sulphones by Peterson olefination using phenyl trimethylsilylmethyl sulphone
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1985)
1949
(doi: 10.1039/p19850001949)
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