Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds, particularly in the development of indole-based drugs. It serves as a building block in medicinal chemistry for creating inhibitors targeting enzymes and receptors. Its nitro and carboxylic functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, enabling the formation of amides, esters, and other derivatives important in drug design. Also employed in research related to nucleoside analogs and fluorescent probes due to the indole scaffold’s interaction with biological systems.