Used primarily as a specialty intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of functionalized polymers and pharmaceuticals. Its strained bicyclic structure and reactive anhydride group make it valuable in Diels-Alder reactions and other cycloadditions, enabling the construction of complex molecular architectures. Commonly employed in the development of high-performance resins and as a crosslinking agent in advanced polymer systems. Also finds use in the synthesis of chiral ligands and catalysts due to its rigid framework and stereochemical stability.