Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its nitro and carboxylic acid functional groups make it valuable in organic transformations, particularly in the preparation of substituted benzoic acid derivatives. It also finds use in the development of dyes and pigments due to its electron-withdrawing substituents, which influence chromophoric properties. Additionally, it serves as a reagent or building block in the design of energetic materials because of the presence of nitro groups.