Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory drugs. It serves as a building block in organic reactions where the nitrile and nitro groups can be further modified to introduce amine or carboxylic acid functionalities. Its chloro and nitro substituents allow for selective cross-coupling reactions, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for constructing complex aromatic systems. Also employed in the preparation of agrochemicals and functional dyes due to its electron-withdrawing group arrangement.