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

Development of an organic-catalyst mediated cyclopropanation reaction

MJ Gaunt, SV Ley, C Papageorgiou, N Bremeyer

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2003)

225

U361

Studies toward the total synthesis of 10-hydroxyasimicin.

SV Ley, DJ Dixon, GL Nattrass, E Diez-Martin

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

(2003)

225

U349

Organic-catalyst-mediated cyclopropanation reaction

CD Papageorgiou, SV Ley, MJ Gaunt

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

(2003)

828

(doi: 10.1002/anie.200390222)

Transfer hydrogenation using recyclable polyurea-encapsulated palladium: efficient and chemoselective reduction of aryl ketones

J-Q Yu, H-C Wu, C Ramarao, JB Spencer, SV Ley

Chem Commun (Camb)

(2003)

678

(doi: 10.1039/b300074p)

1,5-Asymmetric induction of chirality using π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes: highly diastereoselective synthesis of α-functionalised carbonyl compounds

CJ Hollowood, SV Ley, EA Wright

Org. Biomol. Chem.

(2003)

3208

(doi: 10.1039/b306862e)

Total synthesis of the phytotoxic agent herbarumin II using butane diacetals of glycolic acid as building blocks

SV Ley, E Diez, DJ Dixon, A Polara, F Rodriguez

Synlett

(2003)

1186

(doi: 10.1055/s-2003-39892)

Synthesis of Enantiomers ofButane-1,2-diacetal-Protected Glyceraldehyde and of (R,R)-Butane-1,2-diacetal-ProtectedGlycolic Acid

SV Ley, P Michel

Synthesis

(2003)

1598

(doi: 10.1055/s-2003-40519)

Development of beta-keto 1,3-dithianes as versatile intermediates for organic synthesis

MJ Gaunt, HF Sneddon, PR Hewitt, P Orsini, DF Hook, SV Ley

Org Biomol Chem

(2003)

(doi: 10.1039/b208982c)

A 2,3-butanedione protected chiral glycine equivalent—a new building block for the stereoselective synthesis of enantiopure N-protected α-amino acids

DJ Dixon, CI Harding, SV Ley, DMG Tilbrook

Chemical Communications

(2003)

468

(doi: 10.1039/b210673f)

Use of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in the synthesis of taurospongin A: a potent inhibitor of DNA polymerase β and HIV reverse transcriptase

CJ Hollowood, S Yamanoi, SV Ley

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

(2003)

1664

(doi: 10.1039/b301676p)