Search

We report on a case of a 35-year-old man who died suddenly and unexpectedly due to a 4-fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl (4-FIBF) mono-intoxication. Pathological, toxicological and chemical investigations were conducted at the Netherlands Forensic Institute. A full three-cavity forensic pathological examination was performed according to international guidelines. Biological samples obtained during autopsy were comprehensively investigated for the presence of toxic substances using headspace gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection, liquid chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–TOF-MS), GC–MS, high-performance LC with diode array detection and LC–tandem MS (LC–MS-MS). The seized crystalline substance found next to the body was investigated using a presumptive color test, GC–MS, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Pathological investigation identified minor lymphocytic infiltrates in the heart, considered irrelevant for the cause of death. Toxicological analysis of the victims' blood indicated the presence of a fluorobutyrylfentanyl (FBF) isomer, with no other compounds detected. The FBF isomer was identified in the seized crystalline substance as 4-FIBF. 4-FIBF concentrations were quantified in femoral blood (0.030 mg/L), heart blood (0.12 mg/L), vitreous humor (0.067 mg/L), brain tissue (>0.081 mg/kg), liver tissue (0.44 mg/kg) and urine (approximately 0.01 mg/L). Based on the outcomes of the pathological, toxicological and chemical investigations, the cause of death of the deceased was attributed to a fatal 4-FIBF mono-intoxication. The presented case underlines the added value of a combined bioanalytical and chemical investigative approach to identify and subsequently quantify fentanyl isomers in postmortem cases. Furthermore, it demonstrates the importance of investigating the postmortem redistribution of novel fentanyl analogs to establish reference values and to subsequently allow for correct interpretation of cause of death analysis in future casework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different mass spectrometric approaches were used to identify an original non-terpenoid varnish. Direct temperature-resolved MS and pyrolysis-GC/MS mainly showed the phenolic components, whereas thermally assisted (trans)methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) strongly enhanced the evidence for tung oil as part of the varnish. Transethylation studies of the fatty acids confirmed the TMAH data. The degree of hydrolysis of the oil network was found to be low. No evidence was found for a direct link between the drying oil and phenolic resin. On the basis of the MS information, the aged varnish is identified as an open-structure tert-butylphenol - formaldehyde resin which entangles the tung oil polymer.