Used in biochemical and pharmaceutical research as a chiral building block for synthesizing serotonin receptor ligands and analogs. It serves as a key intermediate in the development of neuropharmacological agents targeting mood disorders, sleep regulation, and neurological diseases. Its structural similarity to tryptophan and serotonin makes it valuable in studying enzyme substrates and inhibitors involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. Also applied in asymmetric synthesis and peptide modification to enhance biological stability and receptor selectivity.