Along with 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate, this compound is a certain kind of "body" formed during fatty acid metabolism.
An interesting base-free Heck reaction uses aryltrifluoroborates and this compound to carry out arylation and oxidation.  One equivalent of this compound is condensed in the synthesis of bisphenol A. The Hock rearrangement of cumene hydroperoxide yields phenol and this compound. The di-hydroxy and mono-phosphate substituted version of this compound isomerizes to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate in glycolysis. Both it and its nitrile-substituted version are widely used polar aprotic solvents. Along with 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate, this compound is a certain kind of "body" formed during fatty acid metabolism. This compound is commonly used to rinse laboratory glassware containing organic residues. Nail polish remover contains, for 10 points, what simplest ketone?
An interesting base-free Heck reaction uses aryltrifluoroborates and this compound to carry out arylation and oxidation.  
acetone [or propanone]