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

Looking to the future

S Ley

CHEMISTRY IN BRITAIN

(2001)

The Development and Application of Supported Reagents for Multi-step Organic Synthesis

IR Baxendale, SV Ley

(2001)

1,2-Diacetals: A New Opportunity for Organic Synthesis

SV Ley, DK Baeschlin, DJ Dixon, AC Foster, SJ Ince, HW Priepke, DJ Reynolds

Chem Rev

(2000)

101

(doi: 10.1021/cr990101j)

A Rapid Approach for the Optimisation of Polymer Supported Reagents in Synthesis

C Jamieson*, MS Congreve, DF Emiabata-Smith, SV Ley

Synlett

(2000)

2000

1603

(doi: 10.1055/s-2000-7917)

The use of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in the synthesis of the resorcylic macrolides α- and β-zearalenol

SV Ley, S Burckhardt

Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1

(2000)

3028

(doi: 10.1039/b005942k)

Oxygen to carbon rearrangements of anomerically linked alkenols from tetrahydropyran derivatives: An investigation of the reaction mechanism via a double isotopic labelling crossover study

MF Buffet, DJ Dixon, GL Edwards, SV Ley, EW Tate

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(2000)

1815

(doi: 10.1039/a909300a)

The synthesis of mono- and bicyclic ethers via acid catalysed ring-opening cyclisation of tetrahydropyranyl ether derivatives

DJ Dixon, SV Ley, EW Tate

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(2000)

1829

(doi: 10.1039/a909302h)

Methyl 2,3-O-(6,6′-octahydro-6,6′-bi-2h-pyran-2,2′-diyl)-α-d- galactopyranoside: α-D-Galactopyranoside, methyl, 2,3-O-octahydro[2,2′-bi-2H-pyran]-2,2′-diyl-, [2(2R,2′R)-]

SV Ley, HMI Osborn

Organic Syntheses

(2000)

212

Diastereoselective oxygen to carbon rearrangements of anomerically linked enol ethers and the total synthesis of (+)-( S , S )-( cis -6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid, a component of civet

DJ Dixon, SV Ley, EW Tate

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(2000)

2385

(doi: 10.1039/b001243m)

1,7-Asymmetric induction of chirality in a Mukaiyama aldol reaction using π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes: Highly diastereoselective synthesis of π-substituted β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds

SV Ley, EA Wright

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(2000)

1677

(doi: 10.1039/b002056g)

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

Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

Director of Research

Completed Natural Products

Publications

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

Email address

College

Papers of Interest

About the Department

Departmental Services

Contact Professor Steven V. Ley Research Group

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge