Used in pharmaceutical research as an intermediate in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, particularly in the development of serotonin receptor modulators and kinase inhibitors. Commonly employed in the creation of novel anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer agents due to its indole backbone, which is prevalent in many natural and synthetic drugs. Also utilized in agrochemical research for designing new crop protection agents. Its nitrile group allows for further functionalization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecular structures.