Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for central nervous system (CNS) agents. It serves as a building block in the production of certain antidepressants and anxiolytic drugs due to its ability to modify aromatic amine structures that interact with neurotransmitter receptors. Its nitrile and chloro functional groups allow for further chemical transformations, enabling the creation of more complex molecules. Commonly employed in late-stage functionalization during drug discovery and process chemistry for scalable synthesis routes.