Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as dorzolamide for treating glaucoma, seizures, and conditions involving fluid accumulation. It is also employed in the development of sulfonamide-based drugs with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It serves as a building block in medicinal chemistry due to the electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl group enhancing metabolic stability and bioavailability. Also used in the preparation of agrochemicals and functional materials where fluorinated moieties improve lipophilicity and binding affinity. Its structure is valuable in research for designing enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands.