The photochlorination of toluene is selective for the methyl group.  Mono- to trichlorinated products are obtained. The most important of which is the mono-substituted benzyl chloride, which is hydrolyzed to benzyl alcohol. Benzyl chloride can also be converted via benzyl cyanide with subsequent hydrolysis into phenylacetic acid. The disubstituted benzal chloride is converted to benzaldehyde, a popular flavorant and  intermediate for the production of malachite green and other dyes. The trisubstituted benzotrichloride is used for the hydrolysis of the synthesis of benzoyl chloride:
By reaction with alcohols, benzoyl chloride can be converted into the corresponding esters. With sodium peroxide it turns into dibenzoyl peroxide, a radical initiator for polymerizations. However, the atom economy of these syntheses is poor, since stoichiometric amounts of salts are obtained.