Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, this compound plays a key role in organic synthesis due to the presence of electron-withdrawing nitro groups and an ester functionality. These features make it suitable for nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and metal-catalyzed coupling reactions. It is also employed in the development of dyes and specialty chemicals where nitroaromatic building blocks are required. Its structural properties allow for further functionalization, enabling the construction of complex molecules in research and industrial settings.