This chemical is primarily utilized in the synthesis of specialized surfactants and emulsifiers due to its unique structure, which combines a long hydrophobic carbon chain with a polar carboxylic acid group and a tert-butoxy moiety. Its amphiphilic nature makes it suitable for applications in the formulation of detergents, cleaning agents, and personal care products, where it helps stabilize oil-water mixtures and improve the solubility of hydrophobic substances. Additionally, it serves as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the production of esters and other derivatives used in lubricants, coatings, and polymer additives. Its tert-butoxy group can also act as a protective group in synthetic chemistry, enabling selective reactions in multi-step processes.