Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of kinase inhibitors and other biologically active molecules. Its structure allows for further functionalization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for constructing nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Commonly employed in research settings to build complex drug candidates, especially those targeting neurological disorders and cancer. The cyano and carbonyl groups provide reactive sites for coupling reactions, enabling efficient derivatization in multi-step organic syntheses.