Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of agricultural chemicals, particularly herbicides. It plays a key role in the production of chloroacetanilide-type herbicides, which are effective pre-emergent controls for grasses and broadleaf weeds in crops such as corn, soybeans, and rice. Its reactivity allows for the introduction of chlorine and amide functional groups in larger molecules, making it valuable in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients and agrochemicals. Due to its utility in forming more complex structures, it is also employed in research laboratories for organic synthesis and method development.