Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of antimalarial and antimicrobial agents. Its quinoline backbone contributes to biological activity by interacting with enzyme systems in pathogens. The 3-hydroxyquinoline structure also enables metal chelation, making it valuable in fluorescence research for designing probes that detect transition metal ions, such as copper and iron, in solutions. This property supports applications in biosensors for measuring heavy metals in environmental or biological systems, as well as in biochemical imaging and sensor technologies due to its luminescence under UV light. Additionally, it serves as a building block for complex heterocyclic systems in drug discovery and material science.