Found this patent, Patent EP401104 (http://l2.espacenet.com/dips/viewer?PN=EP401104&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPD)
, they treat l-ethyl lactate with SOCl2, followed by decomposition of the formed chlorosulfite.
In Post 346512 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=9255.msg34651200#msg34651200)
(moo: "alpha-bromopropionic acid from lactic acid", Methods Discourse) there´s a procedure for bromopropionic acid from lactic acid, using HBr at high temp, in a glass bomb so i suppose it will stand up to the temperature of the refluxing HBr solution.
The procedure is in german and, when put into a automatic translation software, will give you some very funny sentences but it is understandable. They also mention the production of ethyl-bromopropionate. Here´s a translation I made:
If lactic acid in a river is heated up by gaseous hydrobromic acid, last to 180 to 200', then something Brompropionsaeure destillirt over. More vortheilhafter it is far, lactic acid up with somewhat more than heating the same Volum of coldly satisfied hydrobromic acid in zugeschmolzenen tubes two to three days in the wasserbad. The Product is then vibrated zweckmaefsig with alcohol-free ether, which destillirt ether solution taken off and after evaporating the ether. With Rectification of the Antheils turning into over 180' one receives with 202 Brompropionsaeure pure to 204'. The lower simmering Theile already contains much Brompropionsaeure, which can be won by repeated Rectification to the Theil. (in Theil simmering with 197 to 200 the ' became with different regulations 50.8 PC. Bromine found.) When opening the tubes one notices sometimes a strong pressure; the escaping gas is pure carbon monoxide, without admixture of carbonic acid. If tube contents are direct destillirt, then some drops of a bromhaltigen, pleasantly smelling liquid turn into with the water vapours, whose nature could not be determined with security. Perhaps a Theil of lactic acid disintegrates after the equation: C3HÕ3 + 2HBr = C2H4Br2 + CO + 2HÒ If one uses available, thus alkoholhaltigen ether for taking the Productes off, then one receives much Brompropionsaeureaether and nearly no acid with distillation; obviously because the Brompropionsaeure is very easily aetherificirt with presence of hydrobromic acid.
"(...)the same Volum of coldly satisfied hydrobromic(...) acid" ;D
Maybe some german speaking person could translate this for better understanting of the procedure.