Used in research as a potent inhibitor of phosphodiesterase enzymes, particularly PDE10A, making it a valuable tool compound in neuroscience studies focused on signal transduction pathways related to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. It serves as a scaffold in the development of potential therapeutics for schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, and other conditions involving dopamine and glutamate regulation. Also employed in fluorescent assays due to its intrinsic luminescent properties, aiding in cellular imaging and high-throughput screening.