Used primarily in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system (CNS) active agents. Its structure supports binding affinity to neurotransmitter receptors, making it valuable in developing antidepressants and anxiolytic drugs. Also employed in the study of structure-activity relationships (SAR) for optimizing drug potency and selectivity. Commonly utilized in early-stage drug discovery for lead compound modification due to its favorable pharmacokinetic properties and metabolic stability.