Many modifications have been reported that influence the reactivity of this reagent.  The compound adopts a complex cluster structure (the adjacent picture is a simplified cartoon), and additives that modify the cluster affect the reactivity of the reagent. For example, DMF, DMSO, hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), and 18-crown-6 interact with the potassium center, yielding solvent separated ion pairs such as K(DMSO) and tert-BuO.  Whereas in benzene, on the other hand, the compound remains as a cluster structure, which is less basic. Even in polar solvents, it is not as strong as amide bases, e.g., lithium diisopropylamide, but stronger than potassium hydroxide. Its steric bulk inhibits the group from participating in nucleophilic addition, such as in a Williamson ether synthesis or related S2 reactions. 
Substrates that are deprotonated by potassium t-butoxide include terminal acetylenes and active methylene compounds. It is useful in dehydrohalogenation reactions. Illustrating the latter behavior, potassium tert-butoxide reacts with chloroform yielding dichlorocarbene, which is useful for dichlorocyclopropanations. Potassium tert-butoxide can abstract a beta-proton from alkylammonium cations, leading to the Hofmann product via an elimination reaction.