Used primarily in pharmaceutical research as a chiral building block for the synthesis of neuroactive compounds. It serves as an intermediate in the development of drugs targeting the central nervous system, particularly those involved in cognitive enhancement and neurodegenerative disorders. Its structural similarity to endogenous neurotransmitters allows integration into molecules that modulate neuronal signaling. Also employed in the preparation of pyrrolidine-based enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands. Due to its stereochemistry, it is valuable in asymmetric synthesis where enantioselectivity is critical for biological activity.