Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It serves as a building block for introducing substituted phenylacetic acid moieties, which are common in drug molecules targeting pain and inflammation. Also employed in organic synthesis for constructing more complex nitroaromatic compounds. Its nitro and chloro functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, such as reductions and nucleophilic substitutions, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry research.