Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds, particularly in the development of serotonin receptor modulators and other central nervous system agents. Its structure serves as a core scaffold in medicinal chemistry for designing compounds with potential antidepressant, antipsychotic, or anti-migraine activity. Also employed in the preparation of fluorescent probes and dyes due to its indole-based aromatic system, which can be functionalized for use in imaging and sensing applications. Additionally, it finds use in research settings for studying indole-based reaction mechanisms and heterocyclic compound optimization.