Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators. Its structure supports the creation of compounds with central nervous system activity, including potential treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The nitrile and hydroxyl functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex heterocyclic systems. It is also employed in research settings to design novel bioactive molecules with improved selectivity and binding affinity.