Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents. Its structure supports the creation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other neuroactive compounds. The presence of both amine and hydroxyl functional groups allows for versatile chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug potency and selectivity. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis to introduce stereochemical control in active pharmaceutical ingredients.