Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

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

An efficient, asymmetric organocatalyst-mediated conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to unsaturated cyclic and acyclic ketones.

CET Mitchell, SE Brenner, J García-Fortanet, SV Ley

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

(2006)

2039

(doi: 10.1039/b601877g)

A highly enantioselective total synthesis of (+)- goniodiol

EW Tate, DJ Dixon, SV Ley

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

(2006)

1698

(doi: 10.1039/b602805e)

A flow process for the multi-step synthesis of the alkaloid natural product oxomaritidine: a new paradigm for molecular assembly.

IR Baxendale, J Deeley, CM Griffiths-Jones, SV Ley, S Saaby, GK Tranmer

Chem Commun (Camb)

(2006)

2566

(doi: 10.1039/b600382f)

Practical synthesis of (S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl-1H-tetrazole, incorporating efficient protecting group removal by flow-reactor hydrogenolysis

S Ley, V Franckevičius, K Knudsen, M Ladlow, D Longbottom

Synlett

(2006)

2006

889

(doi: 10.1055/s-2006.939036)

Diastereoselective aldol reactions with butane-2,3-diacetal protected glyceraldehyde derivatives

KR Knudsen, AF Stepan, P Michel, SV Ley

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2006)

1471

(doi: 10.1039/b601888b)

Double Conjugate Addition of Dithiols to Propargylic Carbonyl Systems To Generate Protected 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds

HF Sneddon, A van den Heuvel, AKH Hirsch, RA Booth, DM Shaw, MJ Gaunt, SV Ley

J Org Chem

(2006)

2715

(doi: 10.1021/jo052514s)

Preparation of the neolignan natural product grossamide by a continuous-flow process

S Ley, I Baxendale, C Griffiths-Jones, G Tranmer

Synlett

(2006)

2006

427

(doi: 10.1055/s-2006-926244)

A New Strategy for Oligosaccharide Assembly Exploiting Cyclohexane‐1,2‐diacetal Methodology: An Efficient Synthesis of a High Mannose Type Nonasaccharide

P Grice, SV Ley, J Pietruszka, HMI Osborn, HWM Priepke, SL Warriner

Chemistry A European Journal

(2006)

431

(doi: 10.1002/chem.19970030315)

Sexual development of malaria parasites is inhibited in vitro by the Neem extract Azadirachtin, and its semi-synthetic analogues

IW Jones, AA Denholm, SV Ley, H Lovell, A Wood, RE Sinden

FEMS Microbiol Lett

(2006)

120

267

(doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07044.x)

Diastereoselective aldol reactions with butane-2,3-diacetal protected glyceraldehyde derivatives (vol 4, pg 1471, 2006)

KR Knudsen, AF Stepan, P Michel, SV Ley

ORG BIOMOL CHEM

(2006)

1612

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

Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

Director of Research

Completed Natural Products

Publications

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

Email address

College

Papers of Interest

About the Department

Departmental Services

Contact Professor Steven V. Ley Research Group

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge