Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of quinoline-based pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of antimalarial and anticancer agents. Its structure supports binding to biological targets through hydrogen bonding and aromatic interactions. The nitrile and hydroxyl groups allow further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug potency and selectivity. Also employed in research for designing fluorescent probes due to the quinoline core’s inherent photophysical properties.