Synthesis of dinitrophenol
Dinitrophenol is a very versatile chemical that has been used as an explosive, a pesticide, and as a pharmaceutical compound. The explosive properties of dinitrophenol are similar to TNT, with a lower detonation velocity and greater stability, but dinitrophenol is rarely used alone. Rather it is used in admixture with other high explosives, mostly for shells.
During WWI workers who physically handled dinitrophenol while manufacturing artillery shells were observed to experience significant weight loss over the course of their employment. It turns out that dinitrophenol in small quantities is an extremely effective weight loss drug, and this discovery led to it being one of the first prescription weight loss compounds. In fact dinitrophenol is still one of the single most effective weight loss compounds in existence.
Dinitrophenol works by stimulating the metabolism. Modern weight loss drugs that stimulate the metabolism only improve metabolic rates by 2-3%, but dinitrophenol can boost the metabolism by as much as 10000% or more. Dinitrophenol works by uncoupling of electron transport from ATP synthesis allows rapid oxidation of Krebs substrates. What this boils down to is dinitrophenol consumes a cells fuel and burns it directly to heat. Without this fuel the cells are forced to use fat to supply their energy. Unfortunately, the very effectiveness of dinitrophenol in producing heat from a cells energy is what makes it so dangerous, and deadly. The heat generated by dinitrophenol will cook you alive in hours, or cause brain damage.
Dinitrophenol is now banned by the FDA because it is far too dangerous to be used by ordinary people. Ordinary people are stupid, and stupid people think if they can lose a little weight by taking one pill, they can lose a lot of weight by taking two or more pills. That might work with aspirin, but the difference between a therapeutic dose and a lethal dose of dinitrophenol is very narrow. Hundreds of people have overdosed on dinitrophenol by misusing the drug. Even so, dinitrophenol is still a very effective weight loss supplement if you are responsible enough use it wisely.
The same properties that make dinitrophenol a dangerous drug also make it an effective pesticide.
Dinitrophenol is a very stable high explosive with properties similar to TNT. There are several isomers of dinitrophenol, but the most useful and easiest to prepare is 2,4-dinitrophenol. Dinitrophenol is rarely used alone as an explosive, but rather it is used in admixture with other high explosives, mostly for shells. While more stable than TNT, dinitrophenol has a lower detonation velocity. Dinitrophenol forms many useful explosive salts with certain metal compounds some of which are described herein.
Dinitrophenol is also an extremely deadly compound. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It raises the body temperature and will kill you. This interesting side effect is due to a massive increase in metabolism that forces the body to burn fat. For this reason it was the first prescribed drug for obesity starting in the 1930’s, but was banned shortly thereafter. It made a resurgence in the 1990’s among body builders, and is still used today. The problem is because it raises metabolism so much your body produces an excessive amount of heat, and this is what kills you. Take too much and you will fry your organs. However, one can lose over 2 pounds of fat a day or more if you are careful and drink lots of water.
Dinitrophenol is also a pesticide and a fungicide sold under the trade name Chemox PE. It is most often used to control citrus red mites. Various dinitrophenol derivatives have been made, but are all banned due to mutagenic properties on fetuses.
