Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. It serves as a building block in the development of compounds with biological activity, including potential use in antitumor and antiviral agents. Its conjugated structure makes it valuable in materials science, especially in the design of organic semiconductors and nonlinear optical materials. Also employed in research for synthesizing liquid crystals and fluorescent dyes due to its rigid, planar framework and electron-withdrawing nitrile group.