(R)-(3-Trifluoromethyl)mandelic acid is primarily used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Its trifluoromethyl group enhances the biological activity and metabolic stability of compounds, making it valuable in drug development. It is often employed in the production of enantiomerically pure drugs, particularly in the fields of anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer agents. Additionally, it serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of agrochemicals, where its structural features contribute to the efficacy of active ingredients. Its chiral nature is also leveraged in asymmetric synthesis to create complex molecules with high stereochemical precision.