Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of nicotinic receptor modulators and central nervous system agents. It serves as a building block in heterocyclic chemistry, enabling the construction of complex pyridine-based structures with biological activity. Its nitrile and carbonyl functionalities allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for creating analogs and derivatives during drug discovery. Also applied in the preparation of kinase inhibitors and compounds targeting neurological disorders.