2-Ethylhexanal can be used as:
- A reductant in the Mukaiyama epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene.
- A reactant in the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction to synthesize cis-α,β-unsaturated amides.
- A starting material to synthesize 2-ethylhexanoic acid using manganese(II) acetate as a catalyst.