Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It serves as a building block in organic reactions due to the presence of both hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functional groups, enabling esterification and coupling reactions. Also employed in the development of agrochemicals and specialty polymers where aromatic backbones with polar substituents are required. Its structural features make it useful in the design of ligands for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.