Used primarily in the pharmaceutical industry as an intermediate in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly for drugs targeting the central nervous system. It serves as a chiral building block in the development of antidepressants and stimulant medications. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for creating enantiomerically pure compounds, which are critical for drug efficacy and safety. Also employed in research settings for developing novel neuroactive agents and probing neurotransmitter pathways.