Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that target central nervous system disorders. Its structure allows for the introduction of piperazine-based motifs, which are common in drugs with antipsychotic, antidepressant, or antihistaminic activity. The cyano group enables further chemical transformations, such as reduction to aminomethyl or conversion to heterocycles, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecules. Also employed in research settings for library generation in drug discovery programs.