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

Novel rearrangement of the ionophore antibiotic X-14547A (indanomycin) and related derivatives induced by lithium tetrafluoroborate

MP Edwards, SV Ley

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1984)

1761

(doi: 10.1039/p19840001761)

THE USE OF "3-ACETOXY-1-TRIMETHYLSILYLBUTADIENE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF ANTHRACYCLINONE DERIVATIVES

PC Bulman-Page, SV Ley

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(1984)

1847

(doi: 10.1039/p19840001847)

Total synthesis of the structurally unique ionophore antibiotic X-14547 A

MP Edwards, SV Ley, SG Lister, BD Palmer

Chemical Communications

(1983)

630

(doi: 10.1039/c39830000630)

Synthesis of β-lactams from π-allyltricarbonyliron (lactone) complexes

GD Annis, EM Hebblethwaite, ST Hodgson, DM Hollinshead, SV Ley

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1983)

2851

(doi: 10.1039/p19830002851)

The Diels–Alder route to drimane related sesquiterpenes; synthesis of cinnamolide, polygodial, isodrimeninol, drimenin and warburganal

DM Hollinshead, SC Howell, SV Ley, M Mahon, NM Ratcliffe, PA Worthington

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(1983)

1579

(doi: 10.1039/p19830001579)

Synthesis of the drimane-related sesquiterpenes euryfuran, confertifolin, and valdiviolide

SV Ley, M Mahon

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(1983)

1379

(doi: 10.1039/p19830001379)

Regiospecific alkylation of β-ketothioesters and use in the synthesis of acyl-tetronic acids

PM Booth, CMJ Fox, SV Ley

Tetrahedron Letters

(1983)

5143

(doi: 10.1016/s0040-4039(00)94065-6)

STEREOCHEMISTRY OF A 5,5,10-TRIMETHYL-2-DECALONE BY PROTON NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE - A NEW APPLICATION OF INDOR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY

SV LEY, AJ WHITTLE, GE HAWKES

J CHEM RES-S

(1983)

210

Peterson olefination using phenylsulphonyltrimethylsilylmethane. A new preparation of vinylic sulphones

SV Ley, NS Simpkins

Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications

(1983)

1281

(doi: 10.1039/c39830001281)

The total synthesis of the clerodane diterpene insect antifeedant ajugarin I

SV Ley, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle

Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications

(1983)

503

(doi: 10.1039/c39830000503)

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