Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of antitubercular drugs like isoniazid. It serves as a key building block in medicinal chemistry due to its reactive aldehyde and carboxylic acid functional groups, enabling diverse derivatization. Also employed in the development of heterocyclic compounds and coordination chemistry as a ligand precursor. Its structure supports the formation of hydrazones and Schiff bases, which are important in drug design and bioactive molecule synthesis.