Used primarily in research as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) model compound, 1,6-dimethylpyrene helps in studying environmental pollutant behavior, particularly the degradation and metabolic pathways of methylated pyrenes in soil and water systems. It serves as a fluorescent probe in analytical chemistry due to its strong emission properties, useful in monitoring organic reactions and detecting specific enzyme activities. Its derivatives are also explored in materials science for developing organic semiconductors and optoelectronic devices.