Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Its structure allows for effective binding in biologically active molecules, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry. The cyano and carboxylic acid functional groups enable further chemical modifications, facilitating the creation of diverse compound libraries for drug discovery. Also employed in the preparation of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors due to its favorable pharmacokinetic properties.