Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of sulfonamide-based pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents. Its nitro group allows for further chemical modifications, such as reduction to an amine, enabling the creation of diverse derivatives for drug discovery. Also employed in organic synthesis to introduce the 4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (Nosyl) protecting group for amines due to its stability and selective deprotection properties. Commonly utilized in research settings for peptide synthesis and in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors.