Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents. It serves as a building block in organic reactions where the nitrile group can be transformed into carboxylic acids, amines, or tetrazoles—functional groups commonly found in bioactive molecules. The presence of the nitrophenyl moiety allows for further reduction to an aniline derivative, enabling conjugation into larger drug-like structures. Its cyclic structure and electron-withdrawing substituents make it suitable for use in medicinal chemistry research and the design of novel therapeutic compounds.