Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of certain antihypertensive drugs and calcium channel blockers. It serves as a building block in organic synthesis due to the presence of both aldehyde and hydroxyl functional groups, allowing for selective reactions in multi-step pathways. Commonly employed in the development of agrochemicals and dyes, where its chloro and hydroxy substituents help direct further substitution patterns on the aromatic ring. Its structure also makes it valuable in the preparation of fluorescent probes and sensors for metal ion detection.