Keying Ding

Dr. Keying Ding is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). His research focuses on organometallic chemistry, catalysis, and bioinorganic chemistry, addressing challenges in energy, environmental sustainability, and healthcare. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester (2009), an M.S. from the same institution (2006), and a B.S. from Liaocheng University (2001).

His research group develops earth-abundant metal catalysts for chemical synthesis critical to drug discovery, agriculture, and materials science. They also design metal-coordinated bioactive molecules with anticancer/antibacterial potential and inorganic photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation under visible light. These projects emphasize sustainable chemistry principles.

Dr. Ding's publications (2015–2023) highlight breakthroughs in cobalt-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling, nickel-mediated decarbonylation, and photocatalyst design. Notable contributions include visible-light-driven BiOBr photocatalysts and ligand-supported cobalt complexes for alcohol activation. His work bridges fundamental organometallic chemistry with practical applications in energy and health.

Students in his group gain expertise in synthetic chemistry, catalysis, and materials characterization. His lab is located in the Science Building at MTSU, providing advanced facilities for spectroscopic and structural analysis.