Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Its structure allows for easy modification in multi-step organic reactions, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecules. It is also employed in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds that serve as core structures in drug discovery programs. Due to the reactive chloroacetyl group, it readily participates in nucleophilic substitution reactions, enabling conjugation with amines or other nucleophiles to form amide or thioamide derivatives. Its application extends to agrochemical research where it helps construct bioactive molecules with potential pesticidal or herbicidal activity.