Used primarily as a reagent in organic synthesis, it plays a key role in the preparation of sulfonamides, which are important in pharmaceutical applications. It is also utilized in the development of dyes and pigments due to its ability to form stable azo compounds. In material science, it serves as a building block for creating light-responsive materials, leveraging its photoisomerization properties. Additionally, it finds application in the study of molecular switches and sensors, where its structural changes under light exposure are exploited for signal transduction.