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

NOVEL REARRANGEMENT OF THE IONOPHORE ANTIBIOTIC X-14547A (INDANOMYCIN) AND RELATED DERIVATIVES INDUCED BY LITHIUM TETRAFLUOROBORATE
MP Edwards, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
SYNTHESIS OF SPIROACETALS USING ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS - X-RAY MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF (2S,8R)-8-METHYL-2-PHENYL-1,7-DIOXASPIRO[5.5]UNDECAN-4(R)-OL
AM Doherty, SV Ley, B Lygo, DJ Williams
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1984)
Oxo complexes of ruthenium(VI) and (VII) as organic oxidants
G Green, WP Griffith, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley, M Schröder
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1984)
Fe2(co)g in tetrahydrofuran or under sonochemical conditions as convenient practical routes to π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes
AM Horton, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
Tetrahedron
(1984)
40
π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in synthesis: Application to the synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)-thienamycin
ST Hodgson, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1984)
Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes
GD Annis, EM Hebblethwaite, ST Hodgson, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
The Diels–Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal
DM Hollinshead, SC Howell, SV Ley, M Mahon, NM Ratcliffe, PA Worthington
J CHEM SOC PERK T 1
(1983)
Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide
SV Ley, M Mahon
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1983)
Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids
PM Booth, CMJ Fox, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1983)
24
The total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I
SV Ley, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle
Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications
(1983)

Research Group

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address