Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of sulfonylurea herbicides, this compound plays a key role in agricultural chemistry. Its structure allows for the development of herbicidal agents that inhibit plant acetolactate synthase (ALS), disrupting amino acid synthesis in weeds. It is also utilized in the preparation of certain pharmaceuticals, particularly as a building block in the manufacture of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors used in the treatment of glaucoma and other conditions involving fluid retention. Due to its functional groups—the sulfonamide and methoxy ester—it serves as a versatile precursor in heterocyclic synthesis, enabling the formation of complex molecules in medicinal and agrochemical research.