Used as an alkylating agent in organic synthesis, particularly in the protection and modification of hydroxyl groups in pharmaceutical intermediates. It serves as a reagent for introducing the ethoxycarbonyloxymethyl (EOM) protecting group, which is useful in peptide and nucleotide synthesis. Its reactivity allows selective functionalization under mild conditions, making it valuable in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Also employed in the preparation of prodrugs due to its ability to form carbonate esters that can be metabolically cleaved.