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

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 17): Regioselective protection of D-glucopyranoside D-galactopyranoside and D-mannopyranoside substrates.

PJ Edwards, DA Entwistle, C Genicot, SV Ley, G Visentin

Tetrahedron: Asymmetry

(1994)

5

2609

(doi: 10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80404-8)

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

GJ Boons, R Downham, KS Kim, SV Ley, M Woods

Tetrahedron

(1994)

50

7157

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)85241-8)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (part 6): Highly stereoselective alkylation of dispiroketal protected lactate and glycolate enolates

R Downham, KS Kim, SV Ley, M Woods

Tetrahedron Letters

(1994)

35

769

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)75813-8)

Tetrapropylammonium Perruthenate, Pr4N+RuO4 -, TPAP: A Catalytic Oxidant for Organic Synthesis

S Ley*, J Norman, W Griffith, S Marsden

Synthesis

(1994)

1994

639

(doi: 10.1055/s-1994-25538)

Dispiroketals in synthesis (Part 5): A new opportunity for oligosaccharide synthesis using differentially activated glycosyl donors and acceptors

G-J Boons, P Grice, R Leslie, SV Ley, LL Yeung

Tetrahedron Letters

(1993)

34

8523

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)61375-8)

Selective Acylation and Alkylation Reactions of Diols Using Dibutyltin Dimethoxide

G-J Boons*, G Castle, J Clase, P Grice, S Ley, C Pinel

Synlett

(1993)

1993

913

(doi: 10.1055/s-1993-22650)

The chemistry of azadirachtin

SV Ley, AA Denholm, A Wood

Natural Product Reports

(1993)

10

109

(doi: 10.1039/np9931000109)

TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF THE SPIROKETAL MACROLIDE (+) MILBEMYCIN ALPHA(1)

SV Ley, A Madin, NJT Monck

Tetrahedron Letters

(1993)

34

7479

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)60158-2)

SYNTHESIS OF 4-SUBSTITUTED IMIDAZOLES VIA 4-METALLO IMIDAZOLE INTERMEDIATES

R Turner*, S Ley, S Lindell

Synlett

(1993)

1993

748

(doi: 10.1055/s-1993-22594)

Microwave Promoted Hydrolysis of Esters Absorbed on Alumina: A New Deprotection Method for Pivaloyl Groups

S Ley*, D Mynett

Synlett

(1993)

1993

793

(doi: 10.1055/s-1993-22612)

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