Used primarily as a reactive intermediate in organic synthesis, this compound functions as a specialty acylating agent. Its anhydride functionality enables it to form ester and amide bonds under mild conditions, making it valuable in the preparation of functionalized polymers and surface modifications. It is also employed in the development of lipid-based molecules for pharmaceutical applications due to its ability to mimic long-chain fatty acid derivatives. The presence of the vinyl group allows for further chemical transformations, such as cross-metathesis or radical addition, enabling modular construction of complex molecules. Its cyclic anhydride structure readily opens in the presence of nucleophiles, facilitating conjugation with alcohols or amines in bioconjugation strategies or polymer chemistry.