Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of sulfonamide-based drugs with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also employed in the preparation of agrochemicals, including herbicides and fungicides, due to its ability to modify bioactive molecules. Its sulfonyl chloride group readily reacts with amines and alcohols, making it valuable in organic synthesis for introducing the benzothiazole sulfonate moiety into larger compounds. Additionally, it finds use in the creation of dyes and fluorescent probes for biological imaging, leveraging the inherent fluorescence of the benzothiazole ring system.