Trees Make Common Pain Killers: New Research Reveals β-Pinene Can Be Converted to Paracetamol and Ibuprofen

The researchers have developed a method to convert β-pinene, a component of turpentine, which is a waste by-product from the paper industry, into a range of valuable chemicals for perfumes, plastics and pharmaceuticals. They have successfully synthesized paracetamol and ibuprofen, which are produced on ~100,000 tonne scales annually, as well as other chemicals that are used for drugs such as beta-blockers and asthma inhalers.