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 last 10 years we have completed the total synthesis of 28 natural products including spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent), rapamycin (immunosuppressant), thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor), azadirachtin (insect antifeedant) and bengazole A (fungicide), taking our group total to 150 completed total syntheses. In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also have a new state-of-the-art flow chemistry facility. 

For more detailed research information, group members and our publication list please see the group website.

Publications

BIOSYNTHESIS OF TETRONASIN .4. PREPARATION OF DEUTERIUM-LABELED C19-C26, C17-C26, C-11-C26 AND C3-C26 POLYKETIDE FRAGMENTS AS PUTATIVE BIOSYNTHETIC PRECURSORS OF THE IONOPHORE ANTIBIOTIC TETRONASIN (ICI-139603)
GJ BOONS, JA CLASE, IC LENNON, SV LEY, J STAUNTON
Tetrahedron
(1995)
51
CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .18. DEMETHYLATION AND METHYLATION OF THE C-8 POSITION OF THE DECALIN PORTION OF AZADIRACHTIN
WJ KOOT, SV LEY
Tetrahedron
(1995)
51
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
Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications
(1995)
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)
41
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)
6
“Connectivist” approach to organic structure determination Lsd-program assisted Nmr analysis of the insect antifeedant Azadirachtin
SV LEY, K DOHERTY, G MASSIOT, JM NUZILLARD
Tetrahedron
(1994)
50
Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 11): Concomitant enantioselective and regioselective protection of 2,5- dibenzoyl-myo-inositol
PJ Edwards, DA Entwistle, C Genicot, KS Kim, SV Ley
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
DISPIROKETALS IN SYNTHESIS .14. FUNCTIONALIZED DISPIROKETALS AS NEW CHIRAL AUXILIARIES - HIGHLY STEREOSELECTIVE MICHAEL ADDITIONS TO A BIFUNCTIONAL, C-2-SYMMETRICAL CHIRAL AUXILIARY
GH CASTLE, SV LEY
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35
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)
35
DISPIROKETALS IN SYNTHESIS .13. FUNCTIONALIZED DISPIROKETALS AS NEW CHIRAL AUXILIARIES - HIGHLY STEREOSELECTIVE DIELS-ALDER REACTIONS USING A BIFUNCTIONAL, C-2-SYMMETRICAL CHIRAL AUXILIARY
BCB BEZUIDENHOUDT, GH CASTLE, JV GEDEN, SV LEY
Tetrahedron Letters
(1994)
35

Telephone number

01223 336398

Email address