It is applied as a chelating ligand in metal complexes (e.g. with lanthanides transition metals like Cr Zn Mn Cu Fe Mo) in coordination chemistry and as a building block for pharmaceuticals and materials.

Its primary purpose is to form stable metal chelates that enhance DNA thermal stability (as calcium complex in spores) serve as markers for sterilization effectiveness and act in analytical or synthetic roles requiring rigid bidentate coordination.

Pyridine-26-dicarboxylic acid (C7H5NO4) also known as dipicolinic acid is a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 248-250C (decomposes) featuring a pyridine ring substituted with carboxylic acid groups at the 2- and 6-positions.