Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, this compound serves in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and functional materials. Its reactive bromomethyl group allows for easy alkylation and coupling reactions, making it valuable in the construction of complex molecules. It is often employed in the development of drug candidates where a benzyl-linked ethanol scaffold is required. Additionally, it finds use in the synthesis of polymers and specialty resins due to its bifunctional nature, enabling cross-linking or chain extension in macromolecular design.