Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of centrally acting drugs. Its structure supports the design of compounds targeting neurological pathways, including those investigated for antidepressant or antipsychotic activity. The presence of a nitrile group and a hydroxymethyl-substituted piperidine ring enables functionalization for building bioactive molecules. It is also employed in medicinal chemistry research to explore structure-activity relationships in drug candidates targeting receptor systems such as serotonin or dopamine receptors.