Used primarily as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of certain central nervous system agents. It plays an important role in the development of drugs targeting neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to bioactive piperidine derivatives. Its reactivity and functional groups allow for easy modification in multi-step synthetic routes, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry research and development. It is also employed in the preparation of chiral catalysts and ligands used in asymmetric synthesis.