Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring high enantiomeric purity. Its structure supports the creation of complex molecules in central nervous system agents and metabolic disease treatments. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies due to its rigid piperidine backbone and functional handles for derivatization. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis as a scaffold for ligands and organocatalysts.