2-Bromopropionyl bromide is primarily used in polymer chemistry as an atom-transfer radical-polymerization initiator in covalent silicate/polystyrene bonding reactions. 2-Bromopropionyl bromide is also used as a reagent in the synthesis of (-)-Cebulactam A1, a macrolactam that is naturally biosynthesized by Saccharopolyspora cebuensis (an actinomyecete isolated from a Philippine marine sponge).