Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) modulators. These compounds are investigated for their potential in treating metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes due to their ability to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. The compound's structure allows for high receptor binding affinity and selectivity, making it valuable in developing insulin sensitizers with reduced side effects compared to traditional thiazolidinediones. It is also employed in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize drug candidates targeting nuclear receptors involved in metabolic regulation.