Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulators. Its rigid bicyclic structure helps in achieving high selectivity and potency in drug candidates targeting neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and nicotine addiction. The tert-butyl ester group facilitates protection during multi-step syntheses, allowing selective reactions at other functional sites. It is also employed in the development of PET tracers for brain imaging due to its favorable pharmacokinetic properties and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.