Used in organic synthesis as a chiral building block for pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules and central nervous system agents. Its rigid, fused ring structure with defined stereochemistry makes it valuable in designing enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies due to its ability to enhance metabolic stability and binding selectivity. Also utilized in asymmetric catalysis as a ligand precursor in enantioselective transformations.