Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly in the production of ibuprofen derivatives. It plays a role in developing compounds with enhanced anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties. Its conjugated structure allows for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug efficacy and selectivity. Also utilized in research settings to study structure-activity relationships in arylpropionic acid-based pharmaceuticals.