Used in pharmaceutical research as a chiral building block for synthesizing neuroactive compounds. It serves as an intermediate in the development of drugs targeting central nervous system disorders, particularly those involving dopamine and serotonin pathways. Its structure mimics natural amino acids, allowing integration into peptide-like molecules with enhanced receptor selectivity. Also employed in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and probes for studying neurotransmitter transporters. The hydrochloride salt form improves stability and solubility for use in aqueous reaction systems.