Used primarily in scientific research as a selective ligand for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, particularly the α4β2 subtype. It serves as a key compound in studies related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, helping to investigate receptor distribution and function in the brain. Its high affinity and selectivity make it suitable for use in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging when labeled with radioactive isotopes, enabling non-invasive visualization of receptor density and changes during disease progression or treatment. Also employed in pharmacological assays to evaluate the binding characteristics and efficacy of new drug candidates targeting the cholinergic system.