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 last 10 years we have completed the total synthesis of 28 natural products including spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent), rapamycin (immunosuppressant), thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor), azadirachtin (insect antifeedant) and bengazole A (fungicide), taking our group total to 150 completed total syntheses. In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also have a new state-of-the-art flow chemistry facility.

For more detailed research information, group members and our publication list please see the group website.

Publications

[3 + 2] Cycloaddition of acetylenes with azides to give 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in a modular flow reactor

CD Smith, IR Baxendale, S Lanners, JJ Hayward, SC Smith, SV Ley

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2007)

5

1559

(doi: 10.1039/b702995k)

Tagged phosphine reagents to assist reaction work-up by phase-switched scavenging using a modular flow reactor.

CD Smith, IR Baxendale, GK Tranmer, M Baumann, SC Smith, RA Lewthwaite, SV Ley

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2007)

5

1562

(doi: 10.1039/b703033a)

A fascination with 1,2-diacetals.

SV Ley, A Polara

The Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2007)

72

5943

(doi: 10.1021/jo0703451)

Continuous flow ligand-free heck reactions using monolithic Pd [0] nanoparticles

N Nikbin, M Ladlow, SV Ley

Organic Process Research & Development

(2007)

11

458

(doi: 10.1021/op7000436)

Influence of microwave irradiation on the reaction of MgO and Al2O3 slurries to form layered double hydroxide

SJ Mitchell, IR Baxendale, W Jones

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2007)

233

205

Natural product synthesis: A stimulus for discovery

SV Ley

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2007)

233

Design and total synthesis of unnatural analogues of the sub-nanomolar SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin.

SP Andrews, MM Tait, M Ball, SV Ley

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2007)

5

1427

(doi: 10.1039/b702481a)

Optimisation of conditions for O-benzyl and N-benzyloxycarbonyl protecting group removal using an automated flow hydrogenator

KR Knudsen, J Holden, SV Ley, M Ladlow

Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis

(2007)

349

535

(doi: 10.1002/adsc.200600558)

Chemical Variation of Natural‐Product‐Like Scaffolds: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Fused Bicyclic Acetal Derivatives

L-G Milroy, G Zinzalla, G Prencipe, P Michel, SV Ley, M Gunaratnam, M Beltran, S Neidle

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

(2007)

46

2493

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200604688)

Identification of a putative azadirachtin‐binding complex from Drosophila Kc167 cells

SL Robertson, W Ni, TS Dhadialla, AJ Nisbet, C McCusker, SV Ley, W Mordue, AJ Mordue 'Luntz'

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

(2007)

64

200

(doi: 10.1002/arch.20171)

Research Interest Groups

Synthetic Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

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