Used in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly as a chiral intermediate for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with central nervous system activity. Its structure supports the development of compounds targeting neurological disorders due to the presence of both amine and hydroxyl functional groups in a stereochemically defined arrangement. Commonly employed in the preparation of antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs where the (R)-enantiomer provides optimal biological activity. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis routes to maintain enantiomeric purity in final drug products.