Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of certain central nervous system agents and anticonvulsant drugs. Its structure allows for incorporation into more complex molecules where the fluorophenyl and ester functionalities are key to biological activity. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for building blocks in drug development, especially in creating analogs of known bioactive compounds. Also utilized in research settings for the preparation of fluorinated amino acid derivatives, which can enhance metabolic stability and binding affinity in drug candidates.