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

Biosynthesis of tetronasin: Part 4, preparation of deuterium labelled C19-C26, C17-C26, C11-C26 and C3-C26 polyketide fragments as putative biosynthetic precursors of the ionophore antibiotic tetronasin (ICI 139603)

G-J Boons, JA Clase, IC Lennon, SV Ley, J Staunton

Tetrahedron

(1995)

5417

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4020(95)00201-i)

CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .18. DEMETHYLATION AND METHYLATION OF THE C-8 POSITION OF THE DECALIN PORTION OF AZADIRACHTIN

W-J Koot, SV Ley

Tetrahedron

(1995)

2077

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4020(94)01071-7)

Behavioural responses of locusts and Spodoptera littoralis to azadirachtin and azadirachtin analogues containing fluorescent and immunogenic reporter groups

MSJ Simmonds, WM Blaney, RB Grossman, SV Ley

Journal of Insect Physiology

(1995)

555

(doi: 10.1016/0022-1910(95)00014-l)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 19)1: Dispiroketals as enantioselective and regioselective protective agents for symmetric cyclic and acyclic polyols.

R Downham, PJ Edwards, DA Entwistle, AB Hughes, KS Kim, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Asymmetry

(1995)

2403

(doi: 10.1016/0957-4166(95)00318-J)

Synthesis of β-dimorphecolic acid exploiting highly stereoselective reduction of a side-chain carbonyl group in a π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex

SV Ley, G Meek

Chemical Communications

(1995)

1751

(doi: 10.1039/C39950001751)

“Connectivist” approach to organic structure determination Lsd-program assisted Nmr analysis of the insect antifeedant Azadirachtin

SV Ley, K Doberty, G Massiot, J-M Nuzillard

Tetrahedron

(1994)

12267

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)89576-4)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 13): Functionalised dispiroketals as new chiral auxiliaries; highly stereoselective diels-alder reactions using a bifunctional, C2- symmetrical chiral auxiliary

BCB Bezuidenhoudt, GH Castle, JV Geden, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

7451

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(94)85339-8)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 14): Functionalised dispiroketals as new chiral auxiliaries; highly stereoselective Michael additions to a bifunctional, C2- symmetrical chiral auxiliary

GH Castle, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

7455

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(94)85340-1)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 12): Functionalised dispiroketals as new chiral auxiliaries; the synthesis of dihydroxylated dispiroketals in optically pure form

BCB Bezuidenhoudt, GH Castle, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

7447

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(94)85338-x)