This process was previously long and difficult, but today they have found a surprising shortcut, promising to reshape the modern pharmaceutical industry amidst a world facing oil shortages.
According to research published in the journal "Nature", Jiao Ning's team at Peking University (China) solved a chemical problem that lasted for more than a century.
They have transformed cheap and readily available industrial raw materials such as coal into olefin, an important step before turning olefin into high-value alkyne under certain conditions.
On an industrial scale, alkyne acts as a versatile "framework", helping pharmaceutical factories accurately assemble complex specific drugs at optimal cost.
The idea of converting olefin to alkyne first appeared in 1861. Over 160 years, scientists have struggled to find an optimal method. Now, Jiao Ning's group's solution operates like a "molecular surgery", extremely sophisticated and accurate.
In addition to its academic value, the industrial impact of research on the economy is enormous. Previously, China mastered the technology of converting coal into olefin to reduce dependence on imported oil sources. However, most of that olefin is only used to produce cheap plastics.
The breakthrough of Jiao Ning's group has outlined a completely new path. Coal-based materials can now become important raw materials for producing high-value chemicals, especially components for new drugs.
Experts compare this to core technology that helps China truly "turn coal into gold", bringing huge economic benefits.
Commenting on the potential of the project on SCMP on March 23, 2026, an expert in Beijing said that the commercialization process will need more verification steps.
According to this expert, when applying technology to large-scale industrial production, factories may face challenges related to the "scale expansion effect", so the system needs to be tested more thoroughly in practice.
However, the project of Peking University has opened up a promising new direction for the pharmaceutical chemistry industry, creating a premise to provide high-quality drugs at a more affordable cost in the future.
