Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of sulfa drugs and other antimicrobial agents. It plays a key role in the development of dyes and pigments due to its reactive sulfonyl chloride group, which readily forms sulfonamides and sulfonate esters. Also utilized in agrochemical synthesis for creating herbicides and plant growth regulators. Its chloro and acetamido functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in multi-step organic syntheses.