Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other bioactive molecules. Its functional groups—nitrile, ester, and phenolic hydroxyl—allow for diverse chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for constructing complex aromatic frameworks. It is also employed in the preparation of dyes and functional organic materials where aromatic cyanides with electron-withdrawing substituents are required.