2-Methylnonane is primarily used as a reference compound in gas chromatography for the analysis and identification of hydrocarbons. It serves as a standard in the calibration of instruments due to its well-defined retention time and chemical properties. Additionally, it is employed in research and development for studying the behavior of branched alkanes in various chemical processes. In industrial applications, 2-methylnonane can be utilized as a solvent or as a component in the formulation of specialty fuels and lubricants, where its branched structure contributes to desirable performance characteristics. It is also explored in the synthesis of more complex organic molecules in organic chemistry laboratories.