Process for producing N-halogenated hydantoins

This invention provides a process for the N-halogenation of at least one 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or at least one 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin. The process comprises concurrently feeding into a reaction zone (i) water, inorganic base, and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, these being fed separately and/or in any combination(s), (ii) a separate feed of a brominating agent, and (iii) a separate feed of a chlorinating agent, in proportions such that during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring halogenation of the 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin occurs and resultant halogenated product precipitates in the liquid phase of an aqueous reaction mixture, and in which the pH of the liquid phase is continuously or substantially continuously maintained in the range of about 2.0 to about 8.0 during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring. Also provided by this invention is a composition of matter which is a halogenated 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin or a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin, which is a mixture of the 1,3-dibromo-, 1,3-dichloro-, and/or N,N′-bromochloro-species of the halogenated hydantoin.