2-Iodobenzyl bromide is primarily used in organic synthesis as a versatile building block for the preparation of various complex molecules. It is particularly valuable in the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds through cross-coupling reactions, such as Suzuki and Heck reactions. The compound is also employed in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, where it serves as an intermediate for the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Additionally, it finds application in the preparation of ligands for catalysis and in the construction of organic frameworks used in material science. Its reactivity with nucleophiles makes it a useful reagent for introducing the benzyl group into target molecules.