Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of neuroactive compounds and central nervous system agents. Its rigid polycyclic structure makes it valuable in medicinal chemistry for mimicking peptide conformations, aiding in the design of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators. Commonly employed in research related to pain management and neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to endogenous neurotransmitters. Also utilized in the preparation of chiral building blocks for asymmetric synthesis in drug discovery.