Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system agents. Its rigid, fused ring structure and defined stereochemistry make it valuable for designing bioactive molecules with high enantioselectivity. Also employed in the preparation of ligands for asymmetric catalysis and in the study of receptor binding due to its structural similarity to natural neurotransmitters.