Used primarily as a research chemical in neuroscience studies, this compound acts as a selective agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, particularly the α4β2 subtype. It is utilized to investigate receptor function, neurotransmitter release, and neuronal signaling pathways. Due to its structural similarity to acetylcholine and nicotine, it serves as a tool compound in studies related to addiction, cognition, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Its high selectivity makes it valuable in pharmacological assays and receptor binding studies.