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

Studies on the generation of enolate anions from butane-2,3-diacetal protected glycolic acid derivatives and subsequent highly diastereoselective coupling reactions with aldehydes and acid chlorides

SV Ley, DJ Dixon, RT Guy, MA Palomero, A Polara, F Rodriguez, TD Sheppard

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

(2004)

3618

(doi: 10.1029/b412790k)

Preparation of enantiopure butane-2,3-diacetals of glycolic acid and alkylation reactions leading to alpha-hydroxyacid and amide derivatives.

SV Ley, E Diez, DJ Dixon, RT Guy, P Michel, GL Nattrass, TD Sheppard

Org. Biomol. Chem.

(2004)

3608

(doi: 10.1039/b412788a)

The first Lewis acid-catalyzed allylboronate additions to aldehydes

DEA Brittain, SV Ley

Chemtracts

(2004)

620

Enantioselective organocatalytic cyclopropanation via ammonium ylides.

CD Papageorgiou, MA Cubillo de Dios, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

(2004)

4641

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200460234)

The preparation and alkylation of a butanedione-derived chiral glycine equivalent and its use for the synthesis of α-amino acids and α,α-disubstituted amino acids

CI Harding, DJ Dixon, SV Ley

Tetrahedron

(2004)

7679

(doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2004.06.063)

Synthesis of the C-1/C-15 spiroketal fragment (AB) of spongistatin 1.

P Orsini, SV Ley, AS Jessiman, MJ Gaunt

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2004)

228

U77

A concise total synthesis of (+)-okaramine C.

PR Hewitt, E Cleator, SV Ley

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2004)

2415

(doi: 10.1039/b410180d)

5-Pyrrolidin-2-yltetrazole as an asymmetric organocatalyst for the addition of ketones to nitro-olefins

AJA Cobb, DA Longbottom, DM Shaw, SV Ley

Chem Commun (Camb)

(2004)

1808

(doi: 10.1039/b409646k)

Synthesis of the thapsigargins

SV Ley, A Antonello, EP Balskus, DT Booth, SB Christensen, E Cleator, H Gold, K Högenauer, U Hünger, RM Myers, SF Oliver, O Simic, MD Smith, H Søhoel, AJA Woolford

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

(2004)

101

12073

(doi: 10.1073/pnas.0403300101)