Used as a chiral intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. Its structure supports binding affinity to certain neurotransmitter receptors, making it valuable in the research of antidepressants and antipsychotics. The presence of trifluoromethyl and naphthyl groups enhances metabolic stability and lipophilicity, which improves blood-brain barrier penetration. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs).