Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, especially in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. It serves as a building block for introducing ethoxy-substituted benzyl groups into more complex molecules. Commonly employed in the preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) where the ethoxybenzyl moiety is part of the target structure. Also utilized in the synthesis of certain fragrances and functionalized polymers due to its reactive chloromethyl group, which allows further derivatization through nucleophilic substitution reactions.