Used primarily as a protecting group reagent in organic synthesis, particularly for alcohol and phenol protection. It reacts with hydroxyl groups to form 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl carbonates that are stable under various reaction conditions but can be selectively deprotected under mild conditions, often using fluoride ions. This makes it valuable in multi-step syntheses, including peptide and nucleotide chemistry, where selective deprotection is critical. Its silyl-based cleavage mechanism avoids harsh acidic or basic conditions, preserving sensitive functional groups in complex molecules.