Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of serotonin receptor modulators. Its structure supports the development of compounds targeting neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and migraines. The cyano and carboxylic acid functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in creating analogs for structure-activity relationship studies. Also explored in the design of prodrugs due to its ability to enhance metabolic stability and bioavailability in central nervous system agents.