Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of indole-based bioactive compounds. It serves as a building block for drugs targeting neurological disorders and inflammation due to the indole scaffold’s affinity with serotonin and other neurotransmitter receptors. Also employed in the preparation of analogs for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies in medicinal chemistry. Its carboxylic acid functionality allows for easy derivatization into amides, esters, and other functional groups to modulate solubility and bioavailability. Additionally, it finds use in the research of anticancer agents where substituted indoles exhibit inhibitory activity against tumor cell growth.