Used in pharmaceutical research as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, particularly in the development of antidepressant medications. It serves as an intermediate in synthesizing compounds targeting central nervous system disorders, including depression and anxiety. Its structure allows for high affinity to norepinephrine transporters, making it valuable in studying monoamine regulation. Also employed in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize pharmacokinetic properties of related therapeutic agents.