Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of fluorinated pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of selective kinase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents. Its trifluoromethyl ketone group enables strong hydrogen bonding and metabolic stability, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for enhancing drug potency and bioavailability. Also employed in the preparation of fluorescent probes and dyes due to its electron-withdrawing properties and aromatic amine functionality, which can be further modified for specific sensing applications.