TEMPO is widely used as a catalyst in organic synthesis, especially in selective oxidation reactions. It enables the conversion of primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones under mild conditions when combined with co-oxidants like sodium hypochlorite or bleach. This makes it valuable in pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries where precise and efficient oxidation is needed.

It also serves as a radical scavenger and stabilizer in polymer chemistry, helping to control radical polymerization processes such as nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP). This allows for the production of polymers with well-defined molecular weights and narrow polydispersity.

In analytical chemistry, TEMPO is used as a paramagnetic probe in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies to investigate molecular dynamics and structural properties in biological and synthetic systems.

Additionally, it finds use in electrochemical applications, including redox flow batteries and sensors, due to its reversible oxidation-reduction behavior.