Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system agents. Its structural framework supports the creation of bioactive molecules with improved binding affinity and metabolic stability. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for constructing naphthalene-based scaffolds in drug discovery programs. Also utilized in the preparation of chiral building blocks for asymmetric synthesis, enabling the production of enantiomerically pure therapeutics.