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 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

Chemistry of insect antifeedants from Azadirachta indica (part 13): on the use of the intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction for the construction of trans -fused hydrobenzofuran fragments for azadirachtin synthesis

HC KOLB, SV LEY, RN SHEPPARD, AMZ SLAWIN, SC SMITH, DJ WILLIAMS, A WOOD

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1992)

2763

(doi: 10.1039/p19920002763)

ENABLING METHODOLOGY - THE SYNTHETIC CHEMISTS CONTRIBUTION TO MOLECULAR RECOGNITION

SV LEY, LL YEUNG

MOLECULAR RECOGNITION : CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROBLEMS II

(1992)

111

183

Dispiroketals in Synthesis: Preparation of a Stable, Sterically Demanding Glyceraldehyde Ketal and Diastereoselective Reactions with Simple Organometallic Reagents

SV LEY, M WOODS, A ZANOTTIGEROSA

Synthesis

(1992)

1992

(doi: 10.1055/s-1992-34153)

The use of π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes in the synthesis of the β-lactone esterase inhibitor (−)-valilactone.

RW BATES, R FERNANDEZMORO, SV LEY

Tetrahedron

(1991)

9929

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)80728-6)

Synthesis of the alkaloids (−)-heliotridane and (−)-isoretronecanol via π-allyltricarbonyliron lactam complexes.

JG KNIGHT, SV LEY

Tetrahedron Letters

(1991)

7119

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(91)85056-b)

Chemistry of insect antifeedants from Azadirachta indica (part 11): Characterisation and structure activity relationships of some novel rearranged azadirachtins.

SV LEY, JC ANDERSON, WM BLANEY, ED MORGAN, RN SHEPPARD, MSJ SIMMONDS, AMZ SLAWIN, SC SMITH, DJ WILLIAMS, A WOOD

Tetrahedron

(1991)

9231

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96211-8)

CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .10. SYNTHESIS OF A HIGHLY FUNCTIONALIZED DECALIN FRAGMENT OF AZADIRACHTIN

HC KOLB, SV LEY

Tetrahedron Letters

(1991)

6187

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(91)80785-5)

CHEMISTRY OF INSECT ANTIFEEDANTS FROM AZADIRACHTA-INDICA .9. OXIDATIVE REACTIONS OF AZADIRACHTIN DERIVATIVES LEADING TO C8-C14 BOND-CLEAVAGE

SV LEY, PJ LOVELL, SC SMITH, A WOOD

Tetrahedron Letters

(1991)

6183

(doi: 10.1016/0040-4039(91)80784-4)

THE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF AGGLOMERIN-A AND (+/-)-CAROLINIC ACID - A GENERAL-METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF 3-ACYL TETRONIC ACIDS VIA DIRECT ACYLATION OF O-METHYL 3-STANNYL TETRONATES

SV LEY, ML TRUDELL, DJ WADSWORTH

Tetrahedron

(1991)

8285

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)91021-x)

Chemistry of insect antifeedants from azadirachta indica (part 8): Synthesis of hydroxydihydrofuran acetal fragments for biological evaluation and azadirachtin total synthesis studies.

JC ANDERSON, SV LEY, D SANTAFIANOS, RN SHEPPARD

Tetrahedron

(1991)

6813

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)82332-2)