Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci | Professor Steven V. Ley Research Group

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

A flow reactor process for the synthesis of peptides utilizing immobilized reagents, scavengers and catch and release protocols

IR Baxendale, SV Ley, CD Smith, GK Tranmer

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)

(2006)

4835

(doi: 10.1039/b612197g)

A new asymmetric organocatalytic nitrocyclopropanation reaction

HM Hansen, DA Longbottom, SV Ley

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)

(2006)

4838

(doi: 10.1039/b612436b)

Sulphuration of Electron-Rich Arenes with Sulphenamides and Aminosulphenyl Chlorides

MU Bombala, SV Ley

Synthetic Communications

(2006)

10

291

(doi: 10.1080/00397918008062752)

Polymer-supported reagents and scavengers in synthesis

SV Ley, IR Baxendale, RM Myers

(2006)

3

791

Fully automated continuous flow synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted oxazoles

M Baumann, IR Baxendale, SV Ley, CD Smith, GK Tranmer

Organic Letters

(2006)

8

5231

(doi: 10.1021/ol061975c)

Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Bengazole A: A Marine Bisoxazole Natural Product Displaying Potent Antifungal Properties

JA Bull, EP Balskus, RAJ Horan, M Langner, SV Ley

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

(2006)

45

6714

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200602050)

An enantioselective organocatalytic route to chiral 3,6-dihydropyridazines from aldehydes

S Ley, A Oelke, S Kumarn, D Longbottom

Synlett

(2006)

2006

2548

(doi: 10.1055/s-2006-951486)

ORGN 141-Asymmetric organocatalytic conjugate addition of malonates to enones using a proline tetrazole catalyst

KR Knudsen, CET Mitchell, S Brenner, SV Ley

ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S

(2006)

232

Enantioselective catalytic intramolecular cyclopropanation using modified cinchona alkaloid organocatalysts

CCC Johansson, N Bremeyer, SV Ley, DR Owen, SC Smith, MJ Gaunt

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

(2006)

45

6024

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200602129)

8,9,10,10a-Tetrahydro-6H-tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrrolo[2,1-c]pyrazines: New Heterocyclic Frameworks Generated by an Ugi-Type Multicomponent Reaction

S Ley, V Franckevičius, D Longbottom, R Turner

Synthesis

(2006)

2006

3215

(doi: 10.1055/s-2006-950219)

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address

svl1000@cam.ac.uk

College

Trinity College

Papers of Interest

141. Preparation and use of tetra-n-propylammonium perruthenate (TPAP reagent) as new catalytic oxidants for alcohols J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun.,1987, 1625-1627.
659. The Synthesis of Azadirachtin Chem. Eur. J., 2008, 14, 10683-10704
366. Total synthesis of the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 1998, 3907-3912.
608. Total Synthesis of Rapamycin Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2007, 46, 591-597.
669. MultiStep Synthesis using Modular Flow Reactors Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2009, 48, 4017-4021
626. A Fascination with 1,2-Diacetals J. Org. Chem., 2007, 72, 5943-5959.
536. Multi-step Application of Immobilized Reagents and Scavengers: A Total Synthesis of Epothilone C Chem. Eur. J., 2004, 10, 2529-2547.
595. A Flow Process for the Multi-Step Synthesis of Oxomaritidine: A New Paradigm for Molecular Assembly J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 2006, 2566-2568.
785. Accelerating spirocyclic polyketide synthesis using flow chemistry Angew. Chem. Int. Edn., 2014, 53, 4915-4920
854. A Lewis Base Catalysis Approach for the Photoredox Activation of Boronic Acids and Esters Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2017, 56, 15136-15140