Used primarily in organic synthesis and materials science, it serves as a key intermediate in the production of liquid crystals, which are essential for display technologies like LCDs. Its structure allows for the creation of compounds with specific optical properties, making it valuable in the development of advanced materials. Additionally, it is utilized in research for studying photochemical reactions due to its ability to undergo trans-cis isomerization under light exposure. This property is explored in the design of light-responsive systems and molecular switches.