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
FE2(CO)9 IN TETRAHYDROFURAN OR UNDER SONOCHEMICAL CONDITIONS AS CONVENIENT PRACTICAL ROUTES TO PI-ALLYLTRICARBONYLIRON LACTONE COMPLEXES
Tetrahedron
(1984)
40
1737
Synthesis of the spiroacetal unit related to the avermectins and milbemycins
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1984)
1381
(doi: 10.1039/c39840001381)
Oxo complexes of ruthenium(VI) and (VII) as organic oxidants
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1984)
681
(doi: 10.1039/p19840000681)
π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in synthesis: Application to the synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)-thienamycin
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1984)
494
(doi: 10.1039/c39840000494)
The total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1983)
503
(doi: 10.1039/c39830000503)
STEREOCHEMISTRY OF A 5,5,10-TRIMETHYL-2-DECALONE BY PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE - A NEW APPLICATION OF INDOR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY
J CHEM RES-S
(1983)
210
Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
1379
(doi: 10.1039/p19830001379)
Total synthesis of the structurally unique ionophore antibiotic X–14547 A
Chemical Communications
(1983)
630
(doi: 10.1039/c39830000630)
Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1983)
1281
(doi: 10.1039/c39830001281)
Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids
Tetrahedron Letters
(1983)
24
5143
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