Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of local anesthetics and antiseptic agents. It serves as a building block in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients due to its reactive aldehyde and hydroxyl functional groups. Also employed in the preparation of dyes and agrochemicals, where chlorinated aromatic aldehydes are required. Its structure allows for easy modification in multi-step organic syntheses, making it valuable in research and industrial settings for creating more complex molecules.