Used as a protected form of methoxyacetic acid in organic synthesis, particularly in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. The tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) group acts as a protecting group for the hydroxyl functionality, allowing selective reactions at other sites in the molecule. This compound is valuable in multi-step syntheses where sensitive functional groups must be masked temporarily. It is commonly employed in the preparation of complex molecules such as natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), where controlled deprotection under mild conditions is required. Its stability under a variety of reaction conditions makes it ideal for use in acidic or basic environments, except in the presence of fluoride ions, which readily remove the TBS group.