Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its functional groups—chloro, hydroxy, and ester—make it valuable in organic reactions, particularly in building complex molecules through nucleophilic substitution or ester hydrolysis. Commonly employed in the production of herbicides and plant growth regulators due to its structural similarity to bioactive organic acids. Also utilized in research settings for preparing chiral compounds, leveraging the hydroxyl group for asymmetric synthesis.