Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of chlorpyrifos, a widely used organophosphate insecticide. It plays a critical role in agricultural pest control, particularly for soil and foliage pests in crops such as corn, cotton, and soybeans. Also serves as a building block in the production of other agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals due to its reactive nitrile and chlorine functional groups. Its structure allows for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in developing new active ingredients in crop protection.