Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of benzodiazepine derivatives, which exhibit central nervous system activity. It serves as a building block for developing anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant agents. Its structure allows for selective modifications to enhance binding affinity to GABA receptors, making it valuable in the design of novel psychoactive drugs. Also explored in the development of radiolabeled compounds for neuroreceptor imaging studies.