1,1,3,3-Tetramethylguanidine is employed as a polyurethane foam catalyst, as an accelerator for the syntheses of polysulfured rubber. It is also used as a strong base in the photochemical (couplers) and in the pharmaceutical (steroids) industries. It is essential for the preparation of alkyl nitriles from alkyl halides and 3'-alkylthymidines from 3'-nitrothymidines. It serves as an efficient and selective catalyst for the benzoylation of alcohols. It replaces the expensive bases 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and 1,5-Diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) in organic synthesis.
