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

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

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

(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 alpha-amino acids and alpha,alpha-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

Chemical Communications

(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

(2004)

101

12073

(doi: 10.1073/pnas.0403300101)