Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It serves as an activated ester in acylation reactions, facilitating the transfer of the benzoate group to nucleophiles such as amines or alcohols. Commonly employed in research settings to study reaction kinetics and enzyme mechanisms, especially in models mimicking esterase or protease activity due to the chromogenic release of 4-nitrophenol upon hydrolysis. Also utilized in the development of sensors and functional materials where a detectable signal is required upon bond cleavage.