Widely used as a Lewis acid catalyst in organic synthesis, enabling a variety of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions. It is particularly effective in Friedel-Crafts acylations, aldol condensations, and glycosylation reactions due to its strong acidity and stability in the presence of water. The catalyst is recoverable and reusable, making it suitable for green chemistry applications. It also finds use in polymerization reactions and in the activation of carbonyl compounds under mild conditions. Its low toxicity compared to other metal triflates enhances its utility in pharmaceutical and fine chemical manufacturing.