在存在烷基铝（2,6-二-2-萘基苯氧基）的条件下，巴豆酸甲酯与可烯醇化的醛进行乙烯醇羟醛反应。 用作有机合成中间体和香料。 以巴豆酸甲酯为催化剂，研究了南极洲假丝酵母脂肪酶 B 催化巴豆酸甲酯与苄胺反应的化学选择性。在植物毒素茄尼酮 D (1) 和 E (2) 的全合成中用作起始试剂。 Methyl crotonate undergoes vinylogous aldol reaction with enolizable aldehydes in the presence of aluminum tris(2,6-di-2-naphthylphenoxide) Methyl crotonate was used to investigate chemoselectivity in the reaction between methyl crotonate and benzylamine catalyzed by lipase B from Candida antarctica using solvent engineering. It was used as starting reagent during the total synthesis of phytotoxins solanapyrones D(1) and E(2).