Used primarily as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) agents. Its structure allows for selective interactions with biological targets, making it valuable in creating analogs for neuroactive drugs. The nitrile group and the methoxyphenyl ring facilitate derivatization for enhancing binding affinity and metabolic stability. It is also employed in medicinal chemistry research to explore new treatments for neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and pain due to its ability to modulate receptor activity in brain pathways.