Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 31, Number 1, January/February 2007, pp.55-61

CASE REPORT: LC–MS–MS Analysis of 2,4-Dinitrophenol and Its Phase I and II Metabolites in a Case of Fatal Poisoning
Lucia Politi, Claudia Vignali, and Aldo Polettini
Department of Legal Medicine and Public Health, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) analysis of biological fluids (blood, urine, gastric content, and bile) collected at autopsy in a case of suspected 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) fatal poisoning allowed the determination of DNP and its known metabolites (2-amino-4-nitrophenol and 2-nitro-4-aminophenol). The tentative identification of three conjugated metabolites (DNP glucuronide, DNP sulfate, and 2-amino-4-nitrophenol glucuronide) could be made on the basis of their pseudomolecular ion, isotopic and fragmentation patterns, and retention characteristics. Another DNP metabolite reported in the literature, 2,4-diaminophenol, was not detected in the samples. Postmortem blood concentrations were 48.4 mg/L for DNP and 1.2 mg/L for 2-amino-4-nitrophenol. Gas chromatography–MS screening and quantification in postmortem blood revealed the presence of toxic concentrations of citalopram and its desmethylated metabolite (0.58 and 0.40 mg/L, respectively) and therapeutic or lower than therapeutic levels of olanzapine (0.04 mg/L), desalkylflurazepam (0.02 mg/L), and nordazepam (0.01 mg/L). Based on LC–MS–MS results and on available literature data on DNP poisonings, it was concluded that DNP poisoning played a contributing role, together with citalopram, in the cause of death.

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