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

Total synthesis of the ionophore antibiotic X-14547A (Indanomycin)

MP Edwards, SV Ley, SG Lister, BD Palmer, DJ Williams

The Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2002)

49

3503

(doi: 10.1021/jo00193a014)

Synthesis and reducibility of homo-2-methoxyazocines and their benzo-fused derivatives. An examination of heteroatomic influences on the possible generation of 9C-10.pi. homoaromatic dianions

LA Paquette, GD Ewing, SV Ley, HC Berk, SG Traynor

Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2002)

43

4712

(doi: 10.1021/jo00419a007)

Unsaturated heterocyclic systems. XCII. Nitrogen analogs of 1,6-methano[12]annulene. Effect on valence tautomerism of the locus of aza substitution

LA Paquette, HC Berk, SV Ley

Journal of Organic Chemistry

(2002)

40

902

(doi: 10.1021/jo00895a020)

Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Ketones Using Polymer-Supported Reagents

IR Baxendale, SV Ley, W Lumeras, M Nesi

Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening

(2002)

5

197

(doi: 10.2174/1386207024607220)

Polyurea-encapsulated palladium( ii ) acetate: a robust and recyclable catalyst for use in conventional and supercritical media

SV Ley, C Ramarao, RS Gordon, AB Holmes, AJ Morrison, IF McConvey, IM Shirley, SC Smith, MD Smith

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)

(2002)

2

1134

(doi: 10.1039/b200677b)

Encapsulation of palladium in polyurea microcapsules.

C Ramarao, SV Ley, SC Smith, IM Shirley, N DeAlmeida

Chemical Communications

(2002)

10

1132

(doi: 10.1039/b200674j)

Analytical construct resins for analysis of solid-phase chemistry.

MS Congreve, SV Ley, JJ Scicinski

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)

(2002)

8

The total synthesis of the annonaceous acetogenin, muricatetrocin C.

DJ Dixon, SV Ley, DJ Reynolds

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)

(2002)

8

Solid-supported reagents for multi-step organic synthesis: preparation and application

SV Ley, IR Baxendale, G Brusotti, M Caldarelli, A Massi, M Nesi

Farmaco

(2002)

57

321

(doi: 10.1016/S0014-827X(02)01210-7)

Analytical Construct Resins for Analysis of Solid-Phase Chemistry

MS Congreve, SV Ley, JJ Scicinski

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)

(2002)

8

1768

(doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20020415)8:8<1768::aid-chem1768>3.0.co;2-j)

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