Used in organic synthesis as a building block for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, acenaphthylene serves as a precursor in the production of dyes, pigments, and fluorescent materials. It is also employed in the development of organic semiconductors and optoelectronic devices due to its conjugated structure. In research, it acts as a model compound for studying reaction mechanisms involving strained olefins and radical reactions. Additionally, derivatives of acenaphthylene are explored in the design of ligands for catalysis and in the synthesis of functional polymers.