Used in research as a metabolite and biomarker for nicotine exposure and metabolism. Due to its structural similarity to nicotine, it functions as a ligand binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), helping to elucidate neurostimulant mechanisms and support the development of therapeutics for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia. It plays a key role in studying tobacco-related health effects and addiction mechanisms. It is also investigated for interactions with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to better understand neuropharmacological pathways. Additionally, it is employed in analytical chemistry for the detection and quantification of tobacco alkaloids in biological samples, and serves as a starting material or intermediate in the laboratory synthesis of other bioactive compounds.