What is DNP?
2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is an organic compound and industrial chemical historically used in the 1930s as a weight-loss agent due to its ability to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. This process increases metabolic rate by causing energy from food to be dissipated as heat instead of stored as ATP, leading to rapid fat loss (often promoted in bodybuilding circles for “cutting” phases).
It is a yellow crystalline powder (or platelets) with a sweet, musty odor, soluble in water to some extent. DNP disrupts the proton gradient in mitochondria, boosting basal metabolic rate significantly (reports suggest ~11% increase per 100 mg dose in some users), but this comes with extreme risks.
Research Applications
- Mitochondrial uncoupling studies
- Metabolic rate and energy expenditure research
- Historical weight-loss mechanism investigations (now obsolete due to risks)
- Industrial chemistry (dyes, explosives precursors)
- Toxicology and poisoning case studies
Quick Product Specs
- Form: Raw Powder (yellow crystalline solid)
- CAS Number: 51-28-5
- Chemical Name: 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP or DNP)
- Storage: Cool, dry place (15–25°C); often supplied wetted with water (≥15-20%) for safety due to explosive potential when dry
- Shelf Life: Typically stable when stored properly (sealed, cool, dry); industrial grades may vary, but 24 months is common for sealed containers
- Type: Small Molecule Mitochondrial Uncoupler
