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

Preparation and use of tetra-n-butylammonium per-ruthenate (TBAP reagent) and tetra-n-propylammonium per-ruthenate (TPAP reagent) as new catalytic oxidants for alcohols

WP Griffith, SV Ley, GP Whitcombe, AD White

Chemical Communications

(1987)

1625

(doi: 10.1039/C39870001625)

An x-ray crystallographic, mass spectroscopic, and NMR study of the limonoid insect antifeedant azadirachtin and related derivatives

JN Bilton, HB Broughton, PS Jones, SV Ley, HS Rzepa, RN Sheppard, AMZ Slawin, DJ Williams, Z Lidert, ED Morgan

Tetrahedron

(1987)

43

2805

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)86886-1)

PREPARATION OF TERT-BUTYL 4-DIETHYLPHOSPHONO-3-OXOBUTANETHIOATE AND USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF (E)-4-ALKENYL-3-OXOESTERS AND MACROLIDES

SV Ley, PR Woodward

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

345

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)95725-3)

Development of a synthetic route towards milbemycin β1: Preparation of an advanced model system.

NJ Anthony, P Grice, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

5763

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96835-7)

The use of β-ketothioesters for the exceptionally mild preparation of β-ketoamides

SV Ley, PR Woodward

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

3019

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96273-7)

A CONFORMATIONAL STUDY OF BAFILOMYCIN-A1 BY X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND NMR TECHNIQUES

GH Baker, PJ Brown, RJJ Dorgan, JR Everett, SV Ley, AMZ Slawin, DJ Williams

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

5565

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)96783-2)

SYNTHESIS OF THE MONOCYCLIC NONAROMATIC C-1 TO C-10 FRAGMENTS OF THE MILBEMYCINS AND AVERMECTINS

NJ Anthony, T Clarke, AB Jones, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

5755

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96833-3)

Microbial oxidation in synthesis: A six step perparation of (+)-pinitol from benzene

SV Ley, F Sternfeld, S Taylor

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

225

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)95692-2)

SYNTHESIS OF A NOVEL 3,4-DIHYDROMILBEMYCIN ANALOG

C Greck, P Grice, AB Jones, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

5759

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96834-5)

Synthesis of a hydroxy dihydrofuran acetal related to azadirachtin: A potent insect antifeedant

SV Ley, D Santafianos, WM Blaney, MSJ Simmonds

Tetrahedron Letters

(1987)

28

221

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)95691-0)

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