Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents. It serves as a building block for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs, which are important in the treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety. Its ester functionality allows for improved lipophilicity, enhancing blood-brain barrier penetration in prodrug designs. Commonly employed in research settings for structure-activity relationship studies of GABAergic compounds.