Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, especially in the production of active ingredients for antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. It serves as a building block in organic reactions due to its ketone functionality and aromatic substitution pattern, enabling transformations such as reductive amination and halogenation. Also employed in the preparation of fragrances and flavoring agents owing to its stable carbonyl structure and moderate volatility. Its chlorinated phenyl group enhances lipophilicity, making it valuable in designing molecules with improved membrane permeability in medicinal chemistry.