8-Iodoquinoline is primarily used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds. Its structure supports the development of antimalarial and anticancer agents due to the quinoline core's affinity for biological targets. The iodine substituent allows for further functionalization via cross-coupling reactions, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecules. It is also employed in research related to metal chelation and luminescent materials, where it acts as a ligand in coordination compounds. Additionally, derivatives of 8-iodoquinoline are explored for their potential in imaging and diagnostics, especially in radiolabeled compounds for tracking biological processes.