Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and psychoactive substances, particularly in the production of certain designer drugs and research chemicals. It plays a role in the preparation of substituted indoles and other nitrogen-containing heterocycles, which are common structural motifs in medicinal chemistry. Its bromo functional group allows for further coupling reactions, such as Suzuki or Heck reactions, enabling the construction of complex organic molecules for drug discovery and development. Also utilized in forensic research to study metabolic pathways and detect novel drug analogs.