Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of kinase inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its structure allows for selective functionalization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for creating targeted therapies, especially in oncology research. The iodo group facilitates cross-coupling reactions such as Suzuki or Heck reactions, enabling the introduction of complex aromatic or heteroaromatic systems. It is also employed in the preparation of fluorescent probes and imaging agents due to the inherent photophysical properties of the quinoline core.