Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of drugs targeting inflammation and pain due to its ability to modulate biological pathways. Its aldehyde group allows for easy functionalization, enabling the formation of Schiff bases or reduction to alcohols for further derivatization. Also employed in the preparation of sulfone-containing organic compounds with potential bioactivity. Commonly utilized in research settings for designing new therapeutic agents and in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship studies.