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Dibromohydantoin has taken a winding road through the annals of pharmaceutical history. Chemists began investigating halogen-substituted hydantoins in the early twentieth century, chasing after potent disinfectants and water treatment agents. The tides shifted as researchers noticed dibromohydantoin’s ability to release hypobromous acid, prompting closer inspection from both the pharmaceutical and water treatment sectors. Laboratories across Europe and the United States refined the compound, adapting it for emerging public health and sanitation standards. Early regulatory frameworks, including monographs within the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), European Pharmacopoeia (EP), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP), granted dibromohydantoin a certain legitimacy, pushing it into mainstream applications.
Dibromohydantoin stands out as more than just a chemical ingredient. In its pharma grade, the compound appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder, recognized for a faint, sometimes pungent odor due to the release of bromine. Its use extends from water purification to pharmaceutical formulations, especially where controlled biocidal action is necessary. Many companies stock dibromohydantoin not only because it checks regulatory boxes but also due to the strong intersection of purity, stability, and significant biocidal impact it delivers in various environments.
The compound carries a systematic chemical name of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, with a molecular formula of C5H6Br2N2O2 and a molar mass around 285.9 g/mol. Solubility remains moderately low in water, which actually helps slow down the release of active bromine species. Melting points often range from 200°C to 215°C, with decomposition instead of simple melting, so handling the substance in heated processes requires a good feel for operational safety. Dibromohydantoin carries a stable shelf life when stored under dry and cool conditions—it resists sunlight degradation, giving users confidence in the lifespan and safety of inventory.
Pharmaceutical-grade dibromohydantoin must meet rigorous standards. A typical product specification demands purity upwards of 98%, minimal moisture content, and extremely low by-products such as dibromoacetic acid. Labels reference batch numbers, precise expiration dates, recommended storage conditions, and all hazard warnings. These detailed data points help traceable supply chains and support pharmacovigilance—areas I have seen regulatory audits keenly focus on. Any lapse in labeling or inaccurate specification tumbling down the chain leads to compliance headaches and can result in product recalls, costing both money and reputation.
Manufacturing dibromohydantoin involves bromination of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin under strictly controlled conditions. Facilities run their reactors with careful metering of bromine, typically dissolved in a chilled and basic aqueous medium. Reaction controls must prevent over-bromination and formation of impurities. Filtration, multiple recrystallizations, and drying steps follow, guided by robust in-process quality checks to make sure that only batches meeting monograph standards progress to final packaging. Tight control at every step prevents costly waste and contamination, reflecting hard-won lessons for chemical process engineers.
Dibromohydantoin’s N-bromo functional groups serve as active centers for chemical reactivity. Upon dissolution in water, especially at neutral to alkaline pH, the compound liberates hypobromous acid, a powerful oxidative biocide. This property’s application extends to treating municipal water, disinfecting swimming pools, and occasionally in in-situ generation of brominated intermediates in active pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis. Modifications of the molecule—substituting other halogens, for example—shift both the stability and antimicrobial spectra, underlying the extensive R&D undertaken by both academic labs and commercial R&D teams seeking to fine-tune properties for specific applications.
Over time, dibromohydantoin has collected plenty of aliases. It goes by DBH, 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and sometimes as “bromoklor” in less formal contexts. Catalogs from chemical suppliers reflect this diversity in naming. Trade names shift based on the country of registration and the intended application—pharmaceutical or industrial—which sometimes leads to confusion in international transactions unless chemical identifiers like CAS Numbers anchor the conversation.
Personal experience with handling dibromohydantoin tells me: respect the risks. The substance irritates mucous membranes, eyes, and skin on direct contact, so gloves, face shields, and localized extraction fans become non-negotiable in any handling environment. Companies maintain rigorous hazard communication programs—using clear pictograms, up-to-date safety data sheets, and spill containment procedures. Waste must route into authorized detoxification streams, never direct drains, given its ecotoxicity to aquatic life. Regulatory environments have tightened up further, with agencies like OSHA and ECHA requiring evidence of appropriate exposure monitoring and employee health screenings wherever significant quantities get handled or stored.
The reach of dibromohydantoin in pharma comes down to its tried-and-true role in water disinfection, surface sanitation, and as a precursor or auxiliary in the synthesis of some heterocyclic compounds with therapeutic activity. Hospitals find it valuable for cleaning water lines and air humidification reservoirs, limiting spread of waterborne pathogens that threaten immunocompromised patients. Facilities for oral dosage form production sometimes integrate dibromohydantoin-based cleaning cycles to guarantee low microbial loads in critical manufacturing zones, tightening GMP compliance. Drug developers have probed its derivatives as potential antifungal and antibacterial agents, running preclinical phases that combine classic screening platforms with new high-throughput assays.
Current R&D trends use dibromohydantoin not only as a potent disinfectant but as a molecular cornerstone for constructing new analogs. Researchers design and synthesize hydantoin-based libraries, searching for structures with better selectivity, lower toxicity, and broader antimicrobial spectra. Collaborations between academic groups and pharma companies often center on green chemistry approaches—trying to swap out toxic solvents and boost yields with less waste. The field also watches the rise of resistance among microbial species. Experts probe biochemical pathways to anticipate future loss in biocidal action, highlighting the need for adversarial testing and surveillance.
Toxicity remains a recurring issue, both for occupational health and consumer safety. Acute exposure to dibromohydantoin can result in skin burns, mucosal irritation, and, at higher doses, respiratory distress. Chronic low-dose exposure has raised concerns about sensitization and potential impacts on liver and kidney function—a fact reinforced by animal studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Ecotoxicology findings warn against indiscriminate disposal, showing negative effects on aquatic microorganisms and secondary poisoning risks for higher aquatic life. Pharma grade materials command strict adherence to safe levels of residuals and careful worker protection measures built into every step of the production and supply chain.
Dibromohydantoin’s future will likely see it further carved into specialty applications rather than broad-spectrum biocidal use. The expanding world of drug-resistant pathogens may drive renewed interest in brominated hydantoins as fallback agents for sanitation. At the same time, pressure mounts from environmental regulators to minimize halogenated compound runoff, which could prompt replacement with “greener” compounds or recycling programs for spent agents. Synthetic innovation will probably keep pushing the envelope, assembling new derivatives with tailored pharmacokinetics or lower toxicity profiles. Industry and research partners who stay ahead on process safety, regulatory compliance, and product stewardship can expect a robust if challenging, landscape for years to come.
Dibromohydantoin has the chemical formula C3H2Br2N2O2. The structure comes down to a hydantoin ring with two bromine atoms. Hydantoin itself gets recognized in pharmaceutical circles for its stable structure and history in medicine. Throwing bromine into the mix shifts the compound into an effective disinfectant territory. In pharma grade material conforming to BP, EP, and USP standards, you see the highest demand for tight control over the content of the active substance—here, that’s 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
Purity isn’t an abstract goal in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Even a tiny contaminant can lead to big problems, whether that’s in a tablet, ointment, or solution. Pharma grade Dibromohydantoin routinely reaches a purity above 98%. Testing cuts through with chromatography to ensure that there aren’t leftover starting materials, excessive moisture, or unknown byproducts. Microbial contamination doesn’t get a pass in these grades, either—manufacturers keep strict records through regular testing, knowing hospitals and water purification plants can’t afford risks.
Each pharmacopoeia sets its requirements. For instance, the British Pharmacopoeia (BP) and European Pharmacopoeia (EP) grade materials won’t just look at the active ingredient; they push for additional quality checks—water content, appearance, assay, identification tests, and specific impurities. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) does not lower the bar. They’ll chase impurities from brominated byproducts to undeclared metals, using methods most chemistry students only see in upper-level lab books.
I’ve seen production labs where a minor deviation in raw material quality sparked a day-long investigation across three departments. Workers don’t shrug this off. They see how much paperwork and equipment calibration tie into a single batch release of pharma grade Dibromohydantoin.
People checking water disinfection tablets or wound-care products trust that every gram in there meets global standards. Cutting corners on purity means risking health. Regulators hand out surprising fines when someone steps outside those rules, and patient complaints skyrocket fast if there’s ever a recall. Over the years, I’ve watched strict supply chain audits become standard because no team wants to wake up to a contaminated shipment story. A solid chain of custody and third-party certification provide peace of mind that the material lives up to the name “pharma grade.”
The road to pure Dibromohydantoin does get bumpy. Byproducts from bromination processes often lurk in raw batches. Factories in regions with less oversight sometimes struggle to hold the line on purity, which can affect global supply chains. Tackling these issues calls for more direct approaches—sourcing bromine with low trace impurity profiles, modernizing reactors, and employing on-site rapid testing.
Companies investing in GMP-certified facilities pay more up front, but they dodge the blowback of poor quality events. Quality agreements between buyers and suppliers lay out testing methods, documentation, and audit schedules. It’s not just about ticking boxes for clean room operations—hands-on training on contamination control turns production into a discipline that goes beyond what regulations demand.
Reliable Dibromohydantoin comes from a mix of experience, scientific method, and rigorous documentation. The most respected names in pharma grade materials pull out lab records from every batch, back those up with current certificates of analysis, and keep a direct line open with regulators. Years in the field show that anything less brings the possibility of loss—of health, trust or product.
Dibromohydantoin doesn’t usually turn up in conversations about medicine, yet it plays a quiet role in areas where health meets hygiene and safety. At its core, Dibromohydantoin works as a strong brominating agent, making it useful for halogenating organic compounds. That property gives it a ticket to show up in several industries, but today, the main buzz focuses on its role in pharmaceuticals and disinfection.
Hospitals and pharmaceutical plants have to stay relentlessly clean. Germs, fungi, and viruses love to lurk in damp, overlooked spots. Dibromohydantoin acts as a powerful microbiocide. Adding it to disinfectant solutions, folks clean medical equipment, water systems, and preparation surfaces, breaking down biofilms that stubbornly resist milder chemicals. Microbial contamination costs the healthcare system dearly and endangers patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare-associated infections lead to thousands of deaths each year in the United States. Quick, effective surface disinfection can prevent a cascade of harm, and Dibromohydantoin delivers a broad spectrum kill on tough pathogens.
Sterile water isn’t just for injections. Laboratories and manufacturing lines demand purified water, free from microbes and organic residue. Dibromohydantoin stands out as a chemical that works in both hard and soft water, controlling bacterial growth without releasing harmful chlorinated byproducts found with common bleach. In a field where water quality affects the outcome of drug production, contaminated systems lead to product recalls, public scares, and tighter regulations.
Some wound care products make use of Dibromohydantoin’s antimicrobial abilities. Wound infections stall healing, raise costs, and hurt trust in medicine. Formulating topical creams and gels with the right level of Dibromohydantoin creates a hostile environment for bacteria but leaves human cells alone when used as directed. Think of diabetic ulcers, surgical sites, and burn treatments, where resistance to antibiotics grows each year. Agents like Dibromohydantoin give clinicians one more weapon in the battle against chronic wound infections, a fact reflected in the growing number of research papers testing halogenated compounds as topical agents.
Handling any strong disinfectant carries some risk. Dibromohydantoin may irritate the skin, airways, or eyes, especially in concentrated solutions. Overuse can cause environmental problems, too—its breakdown products must go somewhere, and strict rules control how hospitals and manufacturers dispose of their chemical waste. Regulations by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit residual bromine in wastewater, and the FDA requires clear labeling and extensive toxicity testing. Responsible use means monitoring concentration, practicing chemical safety, and training staff in emergency procedures.
Antibiotic resistance isn’t going away. Hospitals scramble for solutions when typical antibiotics lose effectiveness. Strong oxidizers and halogenating agents, including Dibromohydantoin, should be seen as a buffer—never a primary medicine, but invaluable for infection control and sterilization. More research into biodegradable alternatives and improved waste treatment will help keep their benefits while protecting people and the planet. Until then, using tools like Dibromohydantoin with care earns its place in the pharmaceutical toolbox.
Dibromohydantoin helps kill germs in water and gets used in pools, spas, and water treatment setups. It brings a punch in disinfection, though packs certain risks if folks treat it like an ordinary household product. You don’t stash it like sugar or baking powder and just walk away. It deserves a thoughtful plan.
I once spent a summer in a pool supply warehouse, and nobody forgot the day a leaky container set off a series of headaches. Left unprotected, dibromohydantoin reacts with moisture in the air. You open a drum left in a humid room, you get a strong scent and sometimes a corrosive mess. The white powder clumps together, loses strength, and that costs money. Even worse, this chemical does not play nice with organic debris or oils. Mixed accidentally, it can spark a fire or release irritating fumes—nobody wants that surprise.
Storing dibromohydantoin isn’t about stashing it somewhere out of the way. Best practice sticks to a cool, dry area with steady airflow. If you rely on a concrete-floor storeroom or a crowded metal shed, you’re one spill or humid night away from trouble. I always tell people to invest in good, tight containers. Choose polyethylene barrels or original packaging. Keep lids sealed—moisture is the enemy.
Folks often overlook that even a single misplaced scoop of dibromohydantoin, dropped near fuels, paint thinners, or grass clippings, leads to dangerous situations. This isn’t just theory—improper storage near solvents already caused documented fires in several municipal pool supply rooms.
Guidelines recommend giving dibromohydantoin its own home, separate from acids, cleaning agents, or anything flammable. I remember a delivery to a small hotel where cleaning supplies sat on top of the chemical drums. Moving those containers—noticing the rust rings underneath and the faint sharp odor—made the risk very real. Cross-contamination starts small and can escalate out of sight until something catches fire or employees struggle to breathe. It’s not just about codes—it’s keeping your crew healthy.
Anyone opening or handling this stuff ought to throw on gloves and goggles. Even a puff of powder in the air burns the throat and stings the eyes. Wash hands, change clothes if there’s any contact. I’ve watched too many folks assume the usual dust mask or cotton gloves cut it. You need chemical-rated protection—look for labels, buy the right gear. Storing spill kits nearby never feels like overkill. Soak up a spill with inert material, and never add water or acids during cleanup—do it carefully, taking your time.
Improved training saves hassle, money, and safety regulators’ headaches. Storage tips do their job only if everyone on the team knows the routine. Walk new hires through the storage room. Mark containers clearly, never repurpose them, and track inventories often to avoid leftovers getting too old or forgotten. If a container looks warped, swollen, or has a crust around the lid, pull it out of service. Don’t gamble on a tight budget. I’ve seen firsthand how attention to storage and handling keeps both people and the place safe, letting the chemical do its work without producing disasters.
Dibromohydantoin always appears in spaces where disinfection calls for muscle; it’s a workhorse in water treatment, pools, and even industrial devices. Some take an interest in its potential as a pharma ingredient, particularly for its antimicrobial skills. Before anyone drops it into a tablet or cream, real questions crop up about staying safe and avoiding toxicity. A pharma product sitting on someone’s nightstand owes its users more than just hope for a cure—it should never become a new problem in itself.
Dibromohydantoin works fast on bacteria and viruses but doesn’t pick favorites. Its strengths come from releasing hypobromous acid and hypobromite into the surrounding environment. In some cases, those byproducts start causing issues in living systems. The eyes, skin, and lungs feel irritation pretty quickly if exposed, and people working with dibromohydantoin in industrial or environmental cleanup settings have reported these symptoms. Though these reports come from larger doses or direct contact, a trace inside a pharma product could still spark a reaction in sensitive patients.
Animal studies add more fuel to this concern. Rats and rabbits dosed with high levels of dibromohydantoin show effects in their kidneys, livers, and sometimes even reproductive organs. Some research puts dibromohydantoin in the “suspected carcinogen” category, mostly based on breakdown products and the way it binds to organic molecules like those inside a living body. It hasn’t appeared anywhere on a prescription bottle yet, and that sits right in line with these worries.
People react differently depending on how the chemical enters the body. If someone swallows a tiny bit, the stomach acid starts ripping apart the molecule and forms brominated byproducts. These compounds are not well characterized, so predicting their risk becomes muddy. Skin contact or inhalation causes its own issues—redness, peeling, or coughing. Every route means a different story for the patient, so drug developers have to map out every possible risk before signing off.
Regulators look past what’s possible and zero in on what’s proven. Right now, no agency including the FDA or EMA has green-lit dibromohydantoin for use in any medicine. In other industries, its safety thresholds stay strict—workplaces set airborne exposure limits, and environmental agencies restrict dumping into water sources. These rules reflect real risk assessments, not administrative headache. Bringing dibromohydantoin into pharma would call for transparent, repeated, and peer-reviewed toxicology studies to chart out a clear safety margin.
Plenty of other antimicrobials fill shelves at pharmaceutical suppliers—chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride, or ethanol-based agents. These compounds carry decades of safety data, straightforward metabolism, and clear labeling for allergic reactions or contraindications. Choosing an established alternative not only improves patient trust, it makes the regulatory journey far less painful for innovators. If dibromohydantoin ever becomes a good bet for pharma, it only happens through full public study, honest risk reporting, and patient-first priorities. My time in product safety taught me that clever shortcuts usually wind up longer in the end, especially where health and trust are concerned.
People working in pharma know the pain of hunting for ingredients that pass the must-have muster for safety, purity, and traceability. Dibromohydantoin, a brominated disinfectant, shows up as a microbiocide for water treatment and pool sanitation, but its role in pharmaceutical manufacturing circles back to the issue of compliance. The question, "Does Dibromohydantoin align with BP, EP, and USP standards?" points to a simple truth: nobody likes surprises when dealing with medicines. If a raw ingredient falls short, the whole chain suffers.
Think of pharmacopeias—the British (BP), European (EP), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP)—as the filter through which any candidate component must pass. These standards are the law of the land for chemical identity, limits on impurities, and even packaging. Years ago, I worked with a QA team that had an easy rule: if an ingredient didn’t meet USP or EP, it sat out of production until it did. It’s just one way to keep recalls off your record and hospitals out of trouble.
Dive into the official monographs, and something becomes clear. Dibromohydantoin usually does not appear in the big three pharmacopeias as a pharmaceutical active or excipient. Its role leans much heavier in industrial and sanitation lines, not syrups, tablets, or injections. Unlike sodium chloride or paracetamol, you won’t see a dedicated, binding document spelling out acceptable limits for related substances, heavy metals, or residue on ignition under BP, EP, or USP.
This absence causes real headaches—not for pool guys, but for any pharma suppliers hoping to introduce it into anything intended for humans. It knocks out an obvious path forward for those considering it, forcing developers to go the extra mile: safety data, custom analytics, and, very likely, an uphill talk with regulators.
Pharma doesn’t deal well with ambiguity. Every time a chemical sits outside pharmacopeial coverage, the onus lands on the manufacturer to prove that it still nails basic criteria: purity, toxicity, stability. That takes lab time, regulatory paperwork, and a lot more cash up front. To make things worse, you have to spell out tests for impurities and verify safety in ways the pharmacopeias usually standardize—for every single batch. If Dibromohydantoin doesn’t appear in BP, EP, or USP, that workload increases for everyone down the line.
I’ve seen suppliers try to push forward anyway—submitting DMFs, drafting in-house methods, and relying on deep dives into toxicology literature to build a bridge regulators will trust. Sometimes, the path means collaborating with compendial authorities to propose official monographs. Other times, the only way in is through solid documentation and a willingness to face extra questions from every regulator involved.
Solutions with Grunt WorkGetting Dibromohydantoin onto the list starts with requesting regulatory review and sharing real-life data—impurity profiles, degradation products, and toxicology must be airtight. In the meantime, substitute ingredients that already carry compendial status keep things moving for pharmaceutical teams. At the end of the day, a raw material without an official place in the master books draws far more scrutiny, with risk and paperwork for every user.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 5,5-dibromoimidazolidine-2,4-dione |
| Other names |
DBH 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin Dibromantoin Dibromohydantoinum Dimethylhydantoin dibromide |
| Pronunciation | /ˌdaɪˌbroʊmoʊ.haɪˈdæn.tɔɪn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 77-48-5 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1200627 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:34770 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1201147 |
| ChemSpider | 28507 |
| DrugBank | DB11367 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 06d38eaf-673c-47d3-8be2-c06187480646 |
| EC Number | 25155-23-1 |
| Gmelin Reference | 142360 |
| KEGG | C11276 |
| MeSH | Dibromohydantoin |
| PubChem CID | 8158 |
| RTECS number | TP9625000 |
| UNII | 8W399UMQ83 |
| UN number | UN3085 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID4058385 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C3H2Br2N2O2 |
| Molar mass | 241.88 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.5 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Slightly soluble in water |
| log P | 0.14 |
| Vapor pressure | 1.5 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 8.45 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 8.7 |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.770 |
| Dipole moment | 4.44 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 189 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -27 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -241 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | D08AE01 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Harmful if swallowed. Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07, GHS09 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302: Harmful if swallowed. H315: Causes skin irritation. H318: Causes serious eye damage. H335: May cause respiratory irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | Keep container tightly closed. Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid breathing dust or fumes. Use personal protective equipment as required. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Avoid release to the environment. |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-1-0 |
| Flash point | > 201.2 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 370°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 930 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose) for Dibromohydantoin: 450 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| NIOSH | Not listed |
| PEL (Permissible) | 1 ppm |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.2 mg/m³ |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Bromochlorohydantoin Dichlorohydantoin Trichloroisocyanuric acid Monobromohydantoin Hydantoin N-Bromosuccinimide Chloramine-T Sodium dichloroisocyanurate |
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
