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
NOVEL ROUTES TO INOSITOL PHOSPHATES USING PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA OXIDATION OF ARENES
ACS SYM SER
(1991)
463
132
TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF THE ANTHELMINTIC MACROLIDE AVERMECTIN B1A
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1991)
667
(doi: 10.1039/p19910000667)
SYNTHESIS OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS
PESTICIDE CHEMISTRY : ADVANCES IN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND LEGISLATION
(1991)
97
A new ruthenium(VI) oxidant: preparation, X-ray crystal structure, and properties of (Ph4P)[RuO2(OAc)Cl2]
Chemical Communications
(1990)
1219
(doi: 10.1039/C39900001219)
AN EFFICIENT 3-STEP SYNTHESIS OF L-(-)-OLEANDROSE FROM (S)-(-)-METHYL LACTATE
Synlett
(1990)
1990
771
(doi: 10.1055/s-1990-21247)
Direct substitution of 2-phenylsulphonylpyrrolidines, -piperidines, -tetrahydrofurans and -tetrahydropyrans by alkyl organometallic reagents in dichloromethane
Synlett
(1990)
1990
749
(doi: 10.1055/s-1990-21237)
DIRECT SUBSTITUTION OF 2-PHENYLSULPHONYLPYRROLIDINES, 2-PHENYLSULPHONYLPIPERIDINES, 2-PHENYLSULPHONYLTETRAHYDROFURANS AND 2-PHENYLSULPHONYLTETRAHYDROPYRANS BY ALKYL ORGANOMETALLIC REAGENTS IN DICHLOROMETHANE
SYNLETT
(1990)
749
SYNTHESIS OF BIOLOGICALLY-ACTIVE CYCLITOLS VIA MICROBIAL OXIDATION OF BENZENE
ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S
(1990)
200
42
USE OF MICROBIAL OXIDANTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF INOSITOL DERIVATIVES AND RELATED CYCLITOLS
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(1990)
200
123
NOVEL ROUTES TO INOSITOL PHOSPHATES USING PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA OXIDATION OF ARENES
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(1990)
200
55
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