Scientists have developed an iron-based catalyst that turns methane into chemical building blocks for drugs and other products. This catalyst is powered by LED light and activates resistant methane molecules. For the first time, they succeeded in creating the drug dimestrol for hormone therapy directly from methane. Czech scientists from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic discovered a catalyst in zeolite that converts methane into methanol with the help of molecular oxygen with satisfactory efficiency. The splitting of oxygen is ensured by two cations of a transition metal, for example iron, at room temperature. This unique system serves to oxidize methane to methanol as a basis for the use of methane in chemical production. In addition, the new method prevents the destruction of the active centers of the catalyst.