Used primarily as a pharmaceutical intermediate in the synthesis of calcium channel blockers, particularly dihydropyridine-based antihypertensive agents. Its structure supports the development of drugs that manage cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and angina by modulating calcium influx in smooth muscle cells. The compound's functional groups enable further chemical modifications essential for optimizing drug efficacy and selectivity. It is not used directly as an active pharmaceutical ingredient but serves a critical role in the production of therapeutically active derivatives.