Used primarily as a crosslinking agent in polymer chemistry, especially in the production of hydrogels and specialty coatings. Its dual maleate groups enable efficient coupling with thiol-containing molecules via thiol-ene reactions, making it valuable in biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. Also employed in the formulation of responsive materials where controlled network formation and degradation are required. Its reactivity and bifunctional structure support the development of stable, tunable polymer networks under mild conditions.