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

Synthesis of (cis-6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid involving the use of an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction

SV Ley, B Lygo, H Molines, JA Morton

Chemical Communications

(1982)

1251

(doi: 10.1039/c39820001251)

Synthesis of substituted cis-decalins as potential insect antifeedants

WP Jackson, SV Ley

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1981)

1516

(doi: 10.1039/P19810001516)

Experiments on the synthesis of tetracycline. Part 16. Improved photocyclic preparation of 12-keto-derivatives and their deprotection using benzeneseleninic anhydride

DHR Barton, MT Bielska, JM Cardoso, NJ Cussans, SV Ley

JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1

(1981)

1840

(doi: 10.1039/P19810001840)

On the reaction of thioacetals with sulphuryl chloride

PC Bulman-Page, SV Ley, JA Morton, DJ Williams

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1981)

457

(doi: 10.1039/P19810000457)

Oxidation of phenols, pyrocatechols, and hydroquinones to ortho -quinones using benzeneseleninic anhydride

DHR Barton, AG Brewster, SV Ley, CM Read, MN Rosenfeld

Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1

(1981)

1473

(doi: 10.1039/P19810001473)

Synthesis of euryfuran, valdiviolide, and confertifolin

SV Ley, M Mahon

Tetrahedron Letters

(1981)

4747

(doi: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)83030-6)

The synthesis and Diels-Alder reactions of 2-prop-2-enylidene-1,3-dioxolan

SV Ley, WL Mitchell, TV Radhakrishnan, DHR Barton

J CHEM SOC PERK T 1

(1981)

1582

(doi: 10.1039/P19810001582)

Preparation of lactones via tricarbonyliron–lactone complexes

GD Annis, SV Ley, CR Self, R Sivaramakrishnan

J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1

(1981)

270

(doi: 10.1039/P19810000270)

Synthesis of cinnamolide and polygodial

SC Howell, SV Ley, M Mahon, PA Worthington

Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications

(1981)

507

(doi: 10.1039/c39810000507)

Synthesis of a trans-decalin as a potential insect antifeedant

SV Ley, NS Simpkins, AJ Whittle

Chemical Communications

(1981)

1001

(doi: 10.1039/c39810001001)

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