Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, this compound serves in the preparation of sulfone-containing molecules with potential biological activity. Its structure allows for alpha-functionalization due to the activated methylene group adjacent to the carbonyl, making it useful in carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. It is employed in the development of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals where the phenylsulfonyl group acts as a protecting group or a directing moiety. Additionally, it has been utilized in research settings for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and as a building block in multistep synthetic routes.