Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of nicotinic receptor ligands and central nervous system agents. It serves as a building block in the development of drugs targeting neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to nicotine. Also employed in the preparation of agrochemicals and specialty chemicals where a pyridine ring with a reactive chloroalkyl side chain is required for further functionalization. Its reactivity allows for alkylation and nucleophilic substitution reactions, making it valuable in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry research.