Used primarily as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its sulfonyl chloride group enables easy formation of sulfonamides and sulfonate esters, which are common structural motifs in bioactive molecules. Particularly valuable in developing herbicides and fungicides due to the presence of the trifluoromethoxy and chloro substituents, which enhance lipophilicity and metabolic stability. Also employed in the preparation of sulfa drugs and kinase inhibitors in medicinal chemistry research. Its reactivity allows for selective derivatization, making it useful in combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening campaigns.