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

CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .17. SYNTHESIS OF MODEL COMPOUNDS OF AZADIRACHTIN - UNUSUAL EFFECT OF REMOTE SUBSTITUENTS ON THE COURSE OF THE OXIDATIVE RING CONTRACTION REACTION

RB Grossman, SV Ley

Tetrahedron

(1994)

50

11553

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)89292-9)

SELECTIVE ACYLATION AND ALKYLATION REACTIONS OF DIOLS USING DIBUTYLTIN DIMETHOXIDE (PG 913, 1993)

CJ BOONS, GH CASTLE, JA CLASE, P GRICE, SV LEY, C PINEL

SYNLETT

(1994)

764

CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .16. SYNTHESIS OF SEVERAL DERIVATIVES OF AZADIRACHTIN CONTAINING FLUORESCENT OR IMMUNOGENIC REPORTER GROUPS

RB Grossman, SV Ley

Tetrahedron

(1994)

50

8871

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)85360-6)

Sexual development of malaria parasites is inhibited in vitro by the Neem extract Azadirachtin, and its semi-synthetic analogues

I Jones

FEMS Microbiology Letters

(1994)

120

267

(doi: 10.1016/0378-1097(94)90482-0)

Model studies towards the insect antifeedant Jodrellin A using an organoselenium mediated cyclization reaction

WM Blaney, AC Cuñat, SV Ley, FJ Montgomery, MSJ Simmonds

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

4861

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)76988-7)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 10): Further reactions of dispoke protected lactate and glycolate enolates

G-J Boons, R Downham, KS Kim, SV Ley, M Woods

Tetrahedron

(1994)

50

7157

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)85241-8)

Studies towards the total synthesis of rapamycin: Preparation of the cyclohexyl C33C42 fragment and further coupling to afford the C22C42 carbon unit

C Kouklovsky, SV Ley, SP Marsden

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

2091

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)73058-9)

Studies towards the total synthesis of rapamycin: Preparation of the C10C17 carbon unit

SV Ley, J Norman, C Pinel

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

2095

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)73059-0)

Studies towards the total synthesis of rapamycin: A convergent and stereoselective synthesis of the C22C32 carbon framework

JC Anderson, SV Ley, SP Marsden

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

2087

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)73057-7)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 7): Protection of D-glucopyranose substrates

AB Hughes, SV Ley, HWM Priepke, M Woods

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

773

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)75814-x)

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