Used primarily in pharmaceutical research as an intermediate in the synthesis of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands. It serves as a key building block for compounds targeting neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Also employed in the development of novel smoking cessation agents due to its structural similarity to nicotine. Its hydrochloride salt form enhances solubility and stability, making it suitable for use in biological assays and drug formulation studies.