Used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It serves as a chiral building block in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients where stereochemistry plays a critical role in drug efficacy and safety. Its structure allows for strong binding affinity to specific neuronal receptors, making it valuable in the research and manufacturing of central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics. Commonly employed in controlled environments for the preparation of high-purity drug substances requiring enantiomeric integrity.