3-Hydroxy-2-pyridinone is a useful synthetic intermediate. It is used to synthesize 2,3-dihydro-8-(boronic acid)-1,4-Dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine (D448690). It can work as an iron chelator. It can also be used to prepare pyridone-based inhibitors Mycobacterium tuberculosis orotate phosphoribosyltransferase.