Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of fluorinated drug compounds where the presence of fluorine enhances metabolic stability and bioavailability. It serves as a building block in agrochemicals for creating herbicides and fungicides due to its reactive halogen groups that facilitate further chemical modifications. The carboxylic acid functionality allows for easy derivatization, making it valuable in organic synthesis for constructing complex molecules. Also employed in the preparation of liquid crystals and specialty polymers where specific electronic and steric properties are required.