Used as a key reagent in organic synthesis, particularly in the protection of imidazole rings during nucleotide and nucleoside chemistry. Its main application lies in the preparation of modified purine and pyrimidine bases for oligonucleotide synthesis, where the trityl group acts as a protecting group and the iodo moiety allows further functionalization. It is also employed in the development of pharmaceutical intermediates, especially in antiviral and anticancer agents that involve imidazole-containing structures. The compound’s ability to selectively protect and activate imidazole nitrogen makes it valuable in multi-step synthetic routes requiring high regioselectivity.