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From coal to cures: Chinese scientists bring a 160-year-old dream to life

Chinese scientists have discovered a way to turn cheap coal into valuable ingredients for medicine. This was once a long and difficult process, but now…

By Samantha Johnson / March 23, 2026
Chinese scientists have discovered a way to turn cheap coal into valuable ingredients for medicine. This was once a long and difficult process, but now they have found a surprising short cut.

In a study published on March 16 in the journal Nature, Jiao Ning’s team at Peking University solved a chemical puzzle that had confounded scientists for over 160 years.

They successfully transformed inexpensive and readily available industrial feedstock – olefins – into high-value alkynes under mild and efficient conditions.

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This breakthrough not only revolutionises the concepts of molecular synthesis but also opens a gateway for China’s coal-based chemical industry to venture into the production of high-value-added fine chemicals.

This exemplifies the strategic thinking that has guided China’s chemical industry in recent years: without needing more oil, China’s chemical industry can improve and create more value through new ideas.

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To grasp the significance of this achievement, one must first understand two fundamental building blocks of organic chemistry: olefins and alkynes.

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