Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active ingredients for central nervous system (CNS) drugs and analgesics. Its functional groups allow for selective transformations, making it valuable in constructing complex cyclic structures. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for building chiral building blocks and in the preparation of conformationally restricted analogs. Also utilized in research settings for designing novel bioactive molecules and in the optimization of drug candidates requiring specific stereochemistry.