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It can be something as simple as an analytical reference.

If you’re testing for dimethyl mercury in say fish, you need a standardized sample of dimethyl mercury to run.

These references are highly dilute and thus less hazardous. But some labs prepare their own references rather than buying them.

That requires working with pure dimethyl mercury.

The hazard is manageable as long as you’re prepared. Chemists work with lots of hazardous chemicals and it can all be managed with the right preparation.

It can theoretically be used as rocket fuel.

I forget the guy's name, but he writes entertaining articles about chemistry things he'll never mess with. I wonder if Dimethyl Mercury is one of them.

Edit: reading further down the comments, Derek Lowe is guy.

It is: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49488014