Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. It serves as a building block in the production of certain herbicides and plant growth regulators due to its ability to undergo selective reactions with nitrogen-containing compounds. Its chloroethyl group facilitates alkylation processes, making it valuable in the development of active ingredients in crop protection agents. Additionally, it has been explored in research settings for the preparation of pyridine-based ligands and catalysts.