Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors. It plays a role in developing compounds targeting central nervous system disorders, particularly for potential use in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression. Its structure allows for strong binding affinity to dopamine transporters, making it valuable in optimizing neuroactive drug candidates. Also investigated for use in positron emission tomography (PET) tracer development due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with specific neural targets.