Used primarily as a reactive intermediate in organic synthesis, this compound serves as an alkylating agent due to the presence of the bromomethyl group. It is especially useful in the preparation of cyclopentene derivatives, which can act as building blocks for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and specialty polymers. The double bond in the ring allows for further functionalization through reactions such as epoxidation, hydroboration, or Diels-Alder cycloadditions. Its ability to undergo nucleophilic substitution makes it valuable for introducing the cyclopentenyl moiety into more complex molecules. It is also employed in the synthesis of natural product analogs and in medicinal chemistry research where constrained ring systems are needed.