Used as a crosslinking agent in polymer chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of functionalized polymers and hydrogels. Its bifunctional ester groups react readily with nucleophiles such as amines or thiols, enabling the formation of covalent bonds between polymer chains. This property makes it valuable in creating networks for drug delivery systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, and responsive materials. It is also employed in organic synthesis to introduce bromoacetate functionalities for further derivatization. Due to its reactivity, it is handled with care in controlled environments.