Zinc cyanide is used for electroplating of zinc. In Gatterman reaction , it is used for the introduction of formyl group in to aromatic compounds as well as to prepare 2-hydroxy-1-nafthaldehyde and mesitaldehyde. It is also used in chemical analysis in analytical chemistry. Further, it acts as a catalyst for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes and ketones. In addition to this, it reacts with 1,3,5-triethyl-benzene to get 2,4,6-triethyl-benzaldehyde.