Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of indole-based bioactive compounds. Its aldehyde functional group allows for further derivatization, such as in Wittig reactions or reductive amination, enabling the construction of complex molecular architectures. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for creating analogs in drug discovery programs targeting neurological disorders, inflammation, and cancer. The tert-butyl protecting group enhances stability during synthesis and can be easily removed under mild acidic conditions when needed.