Used primarily as a building block in organic synthesis, this compound serves in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals due to its reactive aldehyde and bromo functional groups. The bromine atom allows for cross-coupling reactions such as Suzuki or Heck reactions, enabling the construction of complex aromatic systems. The aldehyde group can undergo condensation, reduction, or nucleophilic addition, making it valuable in the synthesis of dyes, fluorescent probes, and liquid crystals. Its naphthalene core contributes to extended π-conjugation, which is advantageous in materials science, particularly in developing organic semiconductors and optoelectronic devices.