Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Its cyano and ester functional groups allow for versatile transformations, such as hydrolysis, reduction, and cyclization reactions. Commonly employed in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) where a substituted butanoate backbone is required. The dimethoxy groups can act as protecting groups for carbonyl functionalities, enabling selective reactions at other sites in the molecule. Also utilized in the synthesis of agrochemicals and specialty polymers due to its ability to introduce functionalized side chains.