Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) agents. It serves as a building block for drugs targeting neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis due to its structural similarity to bioactive piperidine derivatives. Its fluorinated aromatic ring enhances blood-brain barrier penetration, making it valuable in designing neuroactive molecules. Also employed in medicinal chemistry research for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of receptor ligands, including serotonin and dopamine receptors.