Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of indole-based compounds with biological activity. Its structure supports the creation of selective kinase inhibitors and serotonin receptor modulators. The presence of both fluoro and nitro groups allows for further functionalization through reduction or substitution reactions, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for drug discovery. It is also employed in research settings to develop fluorescent probes due to the inherent photophysical properties of the indole scaffold when appropriately substituted.