Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of dyes and pigments, particularly in the production of high-performance colorants for plastics and coatings. It also serves in the development of light-sensitive compounds for photographic materials due to its nitroaromatic structure, which can undergo controlled reduction or substitution reactions. Additionally, it finds use in research for studying radical reactions and steric effects in aromatic systems because of the bulky tert-butyl groups that influence reactivity and stability.