Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of nootropic agents like sunifiram and unifiram. These compounds are studied for their cognitive-enhancing effects and potential in treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia. The hydroxyl and ethynyl functional groups allow for versatile chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for developing new drug candidates. Also employed in research settings to explore structure-activity relationships in central nervous system-targeting molecules.