Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its bromine functionality allows for cross-coupling reactions such as Suzuki or Heck reactions, enabling the construction of complex aromatic systems. The tert-butoxymethyl group acts as a protected alcohol, which can be deprotected under mild acidic conditions to reveal a hydroxymethyl group for further modification. This dual functionality makes it valuable in multi-step synthesis where selective transformations are required. It is also employed in the development of functionalized benzyl derivatives used in medicinal chemistry and materials science.