Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, particularly PDE5 inhibitors, which are important in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It serves as a building block in medicinal chemistry for developing compounds with high selectivity and potency. Its structure allows for functionalization at multiple sites, enabling the creation of diverse analogs for structure-activity relationship studies. Commonly employed in research and development of new therapeutic agents targeting cyclic nucleotide pathways.