Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly in the production of fenbufen and related analogs. It serves as a key building block in pharmaceutical chemistry due to its ability to undergo hydrolysis and cyclization reactions, enabling the formation of biologically active benzoxepine derivatives. Its structure allows for selective modification, making it valuable in developing compounds with improved anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Also employed in research settings for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of arylpropionic acid-type NSAIDs.