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 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

Alkylation reactions of anions derived from 2-benzenesulphonyl tetrahydropyran and their application to spiroketal syntiesis

SV Ley, B Lygo, F Sternfeld, A Wonnacott

Tetrahedron

(1986)

4333

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)87660-2)

Ultrasonic formation and reactions of sodium phenylselenide

SV Ley, LA O'Neil, CMR Low

Tetrahedron

(1986)

5363

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)82086-x)

PREPARATION OF SPIROKETALS BY REACTION OF ANIONS FROM 2-BENZENESULPHONYLTETRAHYDROPYRANS WITH EPOXIDES - SYNTHESIS OF THE C-11 TO C-25 FRAGMENT OF THE MILBEMYCINS

C Greek, P Grice, SV Ley, A Wonnacott

Tetrahedron Letters

(1986)

5277

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)85190-4)

The synthesis of trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans via the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclisation reaction

G Brussani, SV Ley, JL Wright, DJ Williams

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(1986)

303

(doi: 10.1039/p19860000303)

Natural product synthesis using π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complexes: Synthesis of parasorbic acid, the carpenter bee pheromone and malyngolide

AM Horton, SV Ley

Journal of Organometallic Chemistry

(1985)

285

c17

(doi: 10.1016/0022-328x(85)87394-0)

ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLISATION REACTIONS IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS.

SV Ley

Chemistry and Industry London

(1985)

101

SYNTHETIC APPLICATIONS OF YNES, ENES AND ONES - ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS

SV LEY

CHEMISTRY & INDUSTRY

(1985)

101

Preparation and reactions of 2-benzenesulphonyltetrahydropyran

SV Ley, B Lygo, A Wonnacott

Tetrahedron Letters

(1985)

535

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)61931-7)

Structural reappraisal of the limonoid insect antifeedant azadirachtin

JN Bilton, HB Broughton, SV Ley, Z Lidert, ED Morgan, HS Rzepa, RN Sheppard

Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications

(1985)

968

(doi: 10.1039/c39850000968)

Synthesis of the northern hemisphere of the milbemycins using a new strategy for the formation of the C15 to C16 bond.

D Culshaw, P Grice, SV Ley, GA Strange

Tetrahedron Letters

(1985)

5837

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)98940-8)

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

Professor Steve Ley CBE FRS FMedSci

Director of Research

Completed Natural Products

Publications

Research Interest Groups

Telephone number

Email address

College

Papers of Interest

About the Department

Departmental Services

Contact Professor Steven V. Ley Research Group

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge