Glycerol formal is used to to solubilize water-insoluble compounds for subsequent aqueous dilution. It has been used as a chemical and dye emulsifier and as a cosolvent for drug delivery. Glycerol formal was used as a vehicle for antibiotic delivery in rats.
Glycerol formal may be used in the multi-step synthesis of 9-[(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl]guanine (2′-nor-2′-deoxyguanosine), an analog of acyclovir.[3] It may be used in the preparation of 4-substituted dioxolanes.