Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. Its structure supports functionalization at the indole nitrogen and carboxylic acid group, enabling the formation of amide or ester derivatives for drug discovery. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry research to construct biologically active molecules targeting neurological disorders. Also utilized in the preparation of fluorescent probes due to the inherent photophysical properties of the indole scaffold, especially when modified with electron-withdrawing substituents like fluorine.