Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents and analgesics. It serves as a building block for serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors due to its structural compatibility with neurotransmitter transporter binding sites. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for optimizing pharmacokinetic properties such as metabolic stability and blood-brain barrier penetration. Also utilized in the preparation of radiolabeled derivatives for receptor binding studies.