Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, this compound serves in the preparation of more complex molecules through bromine substitution or elimination reactions. Its structure allows for selective reaction pathways, making it valuable in the development of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It is also employed in research settings to study stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms, particularly in nucleophilic substitution reactions where the spatial arrangement of bromine atoms influences the outcome. Due to its reactivity, it can be converted into alkenes via dehydrohalogenation, useful in building carbon-carbon double bonds in synthetic routes.