Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Its structure allows for selective reactions in the development of chiral compounds, making it valuable in the production of certain pesticides and bioactive molecules. The presence of both ester and chloroacetate functionalities enables further chemical modifications, facilitating its role in multi-step organic syntheses. It is also employed in research settings for exploring reaction mechanisms involving nucleophilic substitution and ester hydrolysis.