Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, especially in the production of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its ester structure and chlorine functionality make it suitable for nucleophilic substitution reactions, enabling the introduction of octan-2-yl ester groups or chloroacetyl moieties into target molecules. Commonly employed in the development of active ingredients in pesticides due to the reactivity of the chloroacetate group. Also finds use in research settings for building complex organic molecules through selective transformations.