Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. Its structural features make it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building rigid, conformationally restricted scaffolds that enhance binding affinity and metabolic stability. It is also employed in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators, especially targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, it serves as a chiral building block in asymmetric synthesis, enabling the production of enantiomerically pure drugs.