Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) analogs and other biologically active compounds. It serves in the development of drugs targeting neurological disorders and metabolic diseases due to its structural similarity to pyridine derivatives involved in cellular redox reactions. Also employed in agrochemical synthesis for creating novel herbicides and plant growth regulators. Its nitrile and hydroxyl functional groups allow for versatile chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry research and development.