Used in organic synthesis as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds. Its structure supports the development of polycyclic aromatic systems found in certain therapeutic agents. Commonly employed in research settings to construct phenanthridine-based molecules with potential antitumor, antiviral, or antimicrobial activity. Also utilized in the design of fluorescent probes due to the inherent rigidity and conjugation of the phenanthridine core, enhancing detection sensitivity in biochemical assays.