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

The Synthesis of (-)-Gloeosporone, a Potent Fungal Autoinhibitor of Spore Germination Using a p-Allyltricarbonyl- iron Lactone Complex and a New Reduc- tive Decomplexation Procedure for the Installation of the Embedded 1,7-Diol Component of the Natural Product

S V. Ley, E Cleator, J Harter

Heterocycles

(2004)

62

619

(doi: 10.3987/com-03-s(p)55)

Synthesis of the nonamannan residue of a glycoprotein with high mannose content

P Grice, SV Ley, J Pietruszka, HWM Priepke

Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English

(2003)

35

197

(doi: 10.1002/anie.199601971)

A Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of a Trisaccharide Unit from the Common Polysaccharide Antigen of Group B Streptococci Using Cyclohexane‐1, 2‐diacetal (CDA) Protected Rhamnosides

SV Ley, HWM Priepke

Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English

(2003)

33

2292

(doi: 10.1002/anie.199422921)

Cyclohexane‐1,2‐diacetals (CDA): A New Protecting Group for Vicinal Diols in Carbohydrates

SV Ley, HWM Priepke, SL Warrine

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

(2003)

33

2290

(doi: 10.1002/anie.199422901)

Microwave assisted Leimgruber-Batcho reaction for the preparation of indoles, azaindoles and pyrroylquinolines.

J Siu, IR Baxendale, SV Ley

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2003)

2

160

(doi: 10.1039/b313012f)

A Route to the Thapsigargins from (S)‐Carvone Providing a Substrate‐Controlled Total Synthesis of Trilobolide, Nortrilobolide, and Thapsivillosin F

SF Oliver, K Högenauer, O Simic, A Antonello, MD Smith, SV Ley

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

(2003)

42

5996

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200353140)

Copper(I)-catalyzed preparation of (E)-3-iodoprop-2-enoic acid: (2-Propenoic acid, 3-iodo-, (2E)-)

DJ Dixon, SV Ley, DA Longbottom

Organic Syntheses

(2003)

80

129

Enantioselective synthesis of the tetrahydrobenzylisoquinoline alkaloid (-)-norarmepavine using polymer supported reagents

R H. Perni, I R. Baxendale, T D. Davidson, S V. Ley

Heterocycles

(2003)

60

2707

(doi: 10.3987/com-03-9892)

The Use of Butane Diacetals of Glycolic Acid as Precursors for the Synthesis of the Phytotoxic Calmodulin Inhibitor Herbarumin II

E Díez, DJ Dixon, SV Ley, A Polara, F Rodríguez

Helvetica Chimica Acta

(2003)

86

3717

(doi: 10.1002/hlca.200390314)

The synthesis of the anti-malarial natural product polysphorin and analogues using polymer-supported reagents and scavengers

A-L Lee, SV Ley

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2003)

1

3957

(doi: 10.1039/b308761a)

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