Furan is primarily used as an intermediate in the synthesis of other chemicals. It serves as a building block in the production of specialty solvents, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Its derivatives are important in creating resins and polymers with unique thermal and chemical resistance properties. Furan compounds also play a role in the development of certain drugs due to their presence in biologically active molecules. Additionally, furan is used in research for the preparation of heterocyclic compounds and in the study of aromaticity and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.