Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, particularly those with potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Shows promise in the development of drugs targeting neurodegenerative diseases due to its structural similarity to natural lactone derivatives known for antioxidant effects. Also investigated for use in metabolic pathway studies because of its ability to modulate enzyme activity in cellular models. Its unique fused ring system makes it valuable in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies for optimizing drug candidates.