Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of kinase inhibitors and other biologically active molecules. Its structure supports the construction of complex heterocyclic systems, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for drug discovery. The presence of both cyano and hydroxymethyl functional groups allows for further chemical modifications, enabling the introduction of diverse substituents during multi-step syntheses. Commonly employed in research settings for preparing analogs in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.