Used primarily in organic synthesis, this compound serves as a key intermediate for preparing fluorescent dyes and photoresponsive materials. Its reactive chloromethyl group readily undergoes substitution reactions, making it valuable for attaching anthracene moieties to polymers, dendrimers, and other molecular frameworks. It is also employed in the development of sensors and optoelectronic devices due to the strong fluorescence of the anthracene core. Additionally, it finds use in crosslinking agents for resins and in photopolymerization initiators thanks to its ability to generate radicals under UV light.