Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, especially in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances. It serves as a building block in the preparation of more complex aromatic compounds due to its reactive ketone group and extended conjugation. It is also employed in photochemical studies and as a precursor in the synthesis of fluorescent dyes and optical brighteners. Its aromatic structure makes it useful in research involving polycyclic compounds and in the development of materials with specific light-absorbing or emitting properties.