It is used in electronic ceramics and fluorescent paints. It is employed as an oxidant for selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, as a nitrating reagent for synthesizing nitro aromatic compounds, and as a precursor for Dragendorff reagent for use in TLC stain and for testing the presence of alkaloids. On silica gel support, it has been reported to be an efficient catalyst for the Biginelli reaction.
