Bromochloroacetic acid

Bromochloroacetic acid (CAS 5589-96-8, EC 627-754-9), commonly abbreviated as BCAA, is a dihalogenated acetic acid derivative carrying both bromine and chlorine substituents on the alpha carbon. It carries no assigned E-code and is referenced in chemical databases under identifiers including Hsdb 7619 and Ccris 8228.

In water treatment, BCAA functions as a disinfection byproduct intermediate and a reference standard for monitoring haloacetic acid formation during chlorination and bromination processes. It is also used in synthetic chemistry as a halogenated building block, where the differential reactivity of its bromine and chlorine atoms allows selective substitution reactions in pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis.

BCAA is supplied for industrial and research applications under REACH registration requirements applicable to EU-based handlers. Procurement teams should confirm supplier SDS documentation and purity specifications, as grade requirements vary between analytical reference use and bulk synthesis applications.