Used primarily in organic synthesis, this compound serves as a key intermediate in the production of various pharmaceuticals, including antiviral and antihypertensive drugs. It is also employed in the development of agrochemicals, particularly in the synthesis of herbicides and pesticides. Additionally, it plays a role in the creation of specialty chemicals for research and industrial applications, such as the preparation of complex organic molecules. Its nitrile group makes it valuable in reactions involving carbon-nitrogen bond formation, enhancing its utility in diverse chemical processes.