Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its ester group allows for easy transformation into carboxylic acids or amides, while the dimethylamino moiety can act as a directing group or be quaternized to form surfactants or ionic liquids. Commonly employed in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) where a tertiary amine and ester functionality are required for further coupling or functionalization steps. Also finds use in the synthesis of specialty polymers and as a building block in medicinal chemistry for designing drug candidates with improved solubility and bioavailability.