4-Methoxybenzaldehyde dimethyl acetal is used as a precursor to 1-methoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)hept-2-yne, 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl-3-((4R)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4-carboxamido)propanoate and 1-(p-anisyl)-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenylindene. Further, it acts as a protecting group reagent for diols, especially in carbohydrates. It is also used as a flavor essence in sunflower, cyclamen and in jasmine. In addition to this, it is involved in allylation reactions with allyltrimethylsilane catalyzed by Iron(III) chloride.