Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents and serotonin receptor modulators. Its enantiomeric purity makes it valuable for creating active ingredients in antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis to introduce chirality in drug candidates. Also utilized in the preparation of radiolabeled compounds for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging due to its structural compatibility with neuroreceptor targeting.