Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of dyes and pigments, especially for azo dyes that exhibit strong color fastness. It also serves in the production of fluorescent whitening agents for textiles and paper. Additionally, it finds use in research settings for labeling and derivatization of biomolecules due to the reactivity of the amine group and the stability of the naphthalene core. Its acetate group can be easily hydrolyzed to release the free amine for further chemical transformations.