4-Bromomethyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid is used as a reactant in the synthesis of 4-bromomethyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid succinimide ester, 4-((2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl amino)methyl)-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-(2-hydroxyethylmercaptylmethyl)-3-nitrobenzoic acid. It is also used as a thiol photo-deprotection reagent, a starting material in the synthesis of 2H-indazole based library using parallel solution-phase methods.