He was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2000–2002) and was made a CBE in January 2002, in the process.
[5][6][7][8] Ley was educated at Stamford and Loughborough University of Technology where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science and PhD.
His group has published extensively on this topic, and has completed the synthesis of more than 140 natural target compounds, with notable examples including indanamycin, routiennocin, avermectin B1a, okadaic acid, spongistatin, thapsigargin, epothilone A, antascomicin B, bengazole A and rapamycin.
In the course of this work, he has also made substantial advances in many areas of organic chemistry, including the development of new catalysts, protecting groups and reagents.
[9] As of 2022[update], Ley's work of over 900 papers[10][11] has been recognised by about 45 major prizes and awards, including: