Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressant drugs. It also serves in the development of agrochemicals, including herbicides and fungicides, due to its reactive aldehyde group and electron-withdrawing substituents that facilitate further chemical modifications. Its trifluoromethyl and chloro groups enhance metabolic stability and bioavailability in active compounds, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing biologically active molecules.