Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, particularly in the development of compounds with biological activity. Its structure, featuring a phenylsulfanyl group at position 2, a trifluoromethyl at position 5, and a carbonitrile group, supports use in building blocks for heterocyclic compounds, which are common in drug discovery. The presence of nitrile and trifluoromethyl groups enhances its utility in forming diverse chemical bonds, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry research. Also employed in the creation of selective enzyme inhibitors due to its ability to interact with specific active sites.