Used primarily as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its sulfonyl chloride group readily reacts with nucleophiles such as amines and alcohols, making it valuable for constructing sulfonamide and sulfonate ester derivatives. These functional groups are common in bioactive molecules, including antidiabetic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agents. The electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl group enhances metabolic stability and lipophilicity, which improves cell membrane permeability in drug candidates. It is also employed in the development of herbicides and insecticides due to the stability and reactivity profile imparted by the trifluoromethylbenzyl scaffold. Commonly used in medicinal chemistry for late-stage functionalization and library synthesis in drug discovery programs.