Mark Sephton obtained an MChem degree in Chemistry from the University of York (U.K.) in 2002. As part of his degree studies he worked for Dr. Paul Dyson and synthesized various organic ligands before testing derived ruthenium complexes for disruption of bacterial DNA in vitro. Mark’s final year as an undergraduate was spent at AstraZeneca, Macclesfield (U.K.), on an industrial placement. While at AstraZeneca, Mark worked within the analytical division of the Process, Research and Development department and completed a Masters thesis on the development of a new and generally applicable GC analysis method for the determination of residual solvents in pharmaceutical intermediates. In 2002, Mark joined the Blakemore Research Group, then at the University of Leeds (U.K.), to explore the use of simple C2-symmetric ambifunctional chiral 2,2´-biphenols for catalysis of a range of carbon-carbon bond forming processes. In January 2005, Mark moved with the rest of the Blakemore group to Oregon State University and concluded his PhD studies in June 2008.

"Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking During Interrupted Crystallization of an Axially Chiral Amino Acid Derivative," Sephton, M. A.; Emerson, C. R.; Zakharov, L. N.; Blakemore,* P. R. Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 2094-2096. [LINK][abstract]

"Total Synthesis of (±)-alpha-Isosparteine, (±)-beta-Isosparteine, and (±)-Sparteine From a Common Tetraoxobispidine Intermediate," Norcross, N. R.; Melbardis, J. P.; Ferris Solera, M.; Sephton, M. A.; Kilner, C.; Zakharov, L. N.; Astles, P. C.; Warriner, S. L.; Blakemore,* P. R. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 7939-7951. [LINK][abstract]

"Competing Reaction Pathways from alpha-Halo-alpha-protioalkyl Aryl Sulfoxides Initiated by Organometallic Reagents," Blakemore,* P. R.; Burge, M. S; Sephton, M. A. Tetrahedron Lett. 2007, 48, 3999-4002. [LINK]