2-Chlorobenzonitrile is an activated aryl chloride that is commonly used in reactions that involve the Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of heteroaromatics (e.g. 3-aminopicolinic acid [A627800]). 2-Chlorobenzonitrile and its substituted derivatives (e.g. 2,3-dichloro-6-nitrobenzonitrile [2112-22-3]) also have potential anti-inflammatory properties.