Used primarily in biochemical and genetic research, this compound serves as a key intermediate in the study of DNA alkylation and repair mechanisms. It helps scientists understand mutagenesis and carcinogenesis caused by alkylating agents, which are common environmental toxins and anticancer drugs. Due to its structural similarity to natural guanine, it is also employed in nucleic acid chemistry to probe enzyme specificity, particularly in reactions involving methyltransferases and glycosylases. Additionally, it aids in the development and calibration of analytical methods for detecting modified nucleobases in biological samples.