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
Preparation of spiroketals by reaction of anions from 2-benzenesulphonyltetrahydropyrans with epoxides: synthesis of the c-11 to c-25 fragment of the milbemycins
Tetrahedron Letters
(1986)
27
5277
Ultrasonic formation and reactions of sodium phenylselenide
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
5363
Preparation of 2-substituted pyrroles and indoles by regioselective alkylation and deprotection of 1-(2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl)pyrrole and 1-(2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl) indole
Tetrahedron
(1986)
42
3723
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
Structural reappraisal of the limonoid insect antifeedant azadirachtin
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1985)
968
(doi: 10.1039/c39850000968)
The use of t-butyl acetothioacetate as a route to bis-β-ketomacrolides
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.
(1985)
1805
(doi: 10.1039/C39850001805)
Preparation of vinylic sulphones by Peterson olefination using phenyl trimethylsilylmethyl sulphone
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1985)
1949
(doi: 10.1039/p19850001949)
Use of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactam complexes in the preparation of nocardicin derivatives: synthesis of (–)-3-oxo-1-[( p -benzyloxyphenyl)-benzyloxycarbonylmethyl]azetidin-2-one
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1985)
2375
(doi: 10.1039/P19850002375)
Synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)- thienamycin via an intermediate π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex
Tetrahedron
(1985)
41
5871
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