Flash heating of Illinois coal (to 700 degrees C in 1 second) in flowing hydrogen at 100 atmospheres, limiting the vapor residence time at 700 degrees C to 3 seconds, converts 14 percent of the coal's carbon to methane, 7 percent to ethane, and 10 percent to benzene, toluene, and xylenes. The remainder is coke; the carbon balance shows that heavy tar, if any exists, is less than 3 percent.