Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) where piperazine derivatives are involved. It serves as a building block in medicinal chemistry due to the presence of the piperazine moiety, which is commonly found in drugs with central nervous system activity, antimicrobial properties, or antiviral effects. The citric acid component can aid in solubility and stability during synthesis or purification processes. Also utilized in research settings for crystallization studies or as a reagent in organic synthesis.