Used as a chromogenic substrate in enzymatic assays, particularly for detecting esterase and protease activity. The compound releases a colored product upon hydrolysis, enabling visual or spectrophotometric detection. It is especially useful in histochemistry and clinical diagnostics for identifying enzyme presence in tissues or biological samples. Its alpha-naphthyl group provides a strong chromophore, enhancing sensitivity in detection methods. Commonly applied in research settings to study enzyme kinetics and inhibition.