Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) agents and antidepressants. Its trifluoromethyl group enhances metabolic stability and lipophilicity, improving drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier. Also employed in agrochemicals to create herbicides and pesticides with increased resistance to environmental degradation. The strained cyclobutanol ring enables unique reactivity useful in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecular architectures.