Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of drugs with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It serves as a building block in organic reactions where a sulfur-containing aromatic acetic acid derivative is required. Its structure allows for easy modification in multi-step syntheses, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for creating biologically active molecules. Also utilized in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds that are important in drug discovery and in the design of new therapeutic agents.