Used primarily as a photoaffinity labeling agent in biochemical and pharmacological research. Its key application lies in covalently tagging target proteins or receptors upon UV irradiation, allowing scientists to study drug-receptor interactions, enzyme active sites, and protein-ligand binding. The iodoethyl group enhances reactivity and facilitates incorporation into larger molecules, making it useful for designing probes that capture transient or weak biomolecular interactions. Due to its ability to form highly reactive carbene intermediates upon photolysis, it enables precise spatial and temporal control in crosslinking experiments.