Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It serves as a building block in the production of dyes and fluorescent compounds due to its aromatic nitro group, which can be reduced to an amine for further functionalization. Also employed in the development of sensors and imaging agents, where the nitrobenzyl moiety acts as a photo-labile protecting group in controlled release systems. Its derivatization is common in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship studies.