Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of thiamine (vitamin B1), this compound plays a key role in pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement manufacturing. Its structure supports the construction of the thiazole moiety found in thiamine, making it valuable in multivitamin formulations and in the treatment of vitamin B1 deficiency disorders like beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy. It is also employed in research settings for developing new thiazole-based bioactive molecules.