A method is proposed for predicting catalysts to yield pre-assigned amount of product at pre-assigned temperature and pressure in pre-assigned time, when converting coal to oil. Consider the reaction carbon monoxide plus hydrogen yields hydrocarbons plus byproducts. With given catalyst, at certain conditions of pressure, temperature, and time, there will result a corresponding amount of a given hydrocarbon. Thus the amount of a given hydrocarbon is a function of pressure, temperature, time, and successive dipole moments of both catalyst and the hydrocarbon.