Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It serves as a building block in the preparation of active ingredients in certain herbicides and plant growth regulators due to its reactivity with nucleophiles. Its halogenated structure allows for further functionalization in multi-step organic syntheses, particularly in the development of fluorinated compounds which often exhibit enhanced biological activity and metabolic stability. Also employed in research settings for the preparation of sulfonium or iodonium salts used in photoinitiators for UV-curable coatings and resins.