Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its bromine functionality allows for palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, such as Suzuki or Heck reactions, enabling the construction of complex aromatic systems. The methoxymethyl group serves as a protected hydroxymethyl functionality (equivalent to a methyl ether of a benzyl alcohol), which can be deprotected to the free benzyl alcohol using Lewis acids like BBr3. Commonly employed in the development of bioactive molecules where ortho-substituted benzene derivatives are required.