Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of isoquinoline-based bioactive compounds. It plays a role in the preparation of kinase inhibitors and antimicrobial agents. Its structure supports conjugation in heterocyclic systems, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing drug candidates with enhanced binding and selectivity. Also utilized in research for developing fluorescent probes due to the inherent photophysical properties of the isoquinoline core.