Used in pharmaceutical synthesis as a key intermediate for antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. Its trifluoromethyl group enhances metabolic stability and blood-brain barrier penetration, making it valuable in CNS-active compound development. Also employed in the preparation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) due to its structural similarity to known bioactive phenethylamines. Commonly utilized in medicinal chemistry research for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies involving amine-containing therapeutics.