Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of kinase inhibitors, particularly for targeting enzymes involved in inflammatory and oncological pathways. Its structure supports binding to specific protein targets, making it valuable in developing drugs for autoimmune diseases and certain cancers. The nitrile and hydroxymethyl functional groups allow further chemical modifications, enhancing its utility in structure-activity relationship studies. Also explored in the design of CNS-active agents due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.