Used in lignin research to study the structure and degradation mechanisms of lignin in plant cell walls. Helps in understanding bond cleavage during pulping and biofuel production processes. Serves as a model compound for β-O-4 linkages, the most common inter-unit bond in lignin, enabling detailed analysis of chemical and enzymatic reactions involved in lignin depolymerization. Also applied in developing catalysts for biomass conversion and sustainable aromatic chemical production.