Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of styryl-based pharmaceutical compounds, particularly combretastatin analogs acting as microtubule inhibitors for cancer treatment by disrupting cell division. Its conjugated structure supports applications in organic semiconductors, making it useful in optoelectronic materials such as OLEDs. Also employed in research for photoisomerization studies due to the styryl double bond, which responds to light stimuli. Shows potential in medicinal chemistry for designing anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents through structural modification, offering good cell permeability and biological target specificity.