Used primarily in scientific research to study nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, this compound serves as a metabolite and derivative of nicotine. It helps in understanding metabolic pathways and detoxification processes in biological systems. Due to its structural similarity to nicotine, it is also employed in the development and testing of analytical methods for detecting nicotine and its oxidation products in biological samples. Its presence is often monitored in tobacco products and smoke to assess chemical changes during processing and combustion. Additionally, it has been explored in studies related to pesticide development and environmental impact due to its natural occurrence in tobacco plants and potential bioactivity.