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 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

A homo-proline tetrazole as an improved organocatalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to nitro-olefins

CET Mitchell, AJA Cobb, SV Ley

Synlett

(2005)

611

(doi: 10.1055/s-2005-862392)

A Highly Automated, Polymer-Assisted Strategy for the Preparation of 2-Alkylthiobenzimidazoles and N,N‘-Dialkylbenzimidazolin-2-ones

E Vickerstaffe, BH Warrington, M Ladlow, SV Ley

J Comb Chem

(2005)

385

(doi: 10.1021/cc049832+)

Synthesis of a Ceramide Sphingolipid as a Potential Sex Pheromone of the Hair Crab Erimacrus isenbeckii Using Butane-2,3-diacetal Desymmetrised Glycolic Acid Building Blocks

DJ Dixon, SV Ley, S Lohmann, TD Sheppard

Synlett

(2005)

481

(doi: 10.1055/s-2005-862361)

The total synthesis of the annonaceous acetogenin 10-hydroxyasimicin

GL Nattrass, E Díez, MM McLachlan, DJ Dixon, SV Ley

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

(2005)

580

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200462264)

Organic chemistry in ionic liquids using non-thermal energy-transfer processes

J Habermann, S Ponzi, SV Ley

Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry

(2005)

125

(doi: 10.2174/1570193053544454)

Synthesis of alkaloid natural products using solid-supported reagents and scavengers

IR Baxendale, SV Ley

Current Organic Chemistry

(2005)

1521

(doi: 10.2174/138527205774370513)

Total synthesis of the Fusarium toxin equisetin

LT Burke, DJ Dixon, SV Ley, F Rodríguez

Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2004)

274

(doi: 10.1039/b411350k)

Organocatalysis with proline derivatives: improved catalysts for the asymmetric Mannich, nitro-Michael and aldol reactions

AJA Cobb, DM Shaw, DA Longbottom, JB Gold, SV Ley

Org Biomol Chem

(2004)

(doi: 10.1039/b414742a)

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 & Biomolecular Chemistry

(2004)

3618

(doi: 10.1039/b412790k)

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

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

Organic & biomolecular chemistry

(2004)

3608

(doi: 10.1039/b412788a)