Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of certain antidepressants and central nervous system agents. Its structure allows for selective transformations, making it valuable in creating chiral molecules with high enantiomeric purity. Commonly employed in the development of serotonin reuptake inhibitors due to its ability to mimic bioactive conformations. Also utilized in the preparation of fluorinated analogs in medicinal chemistry to enhance metabolic stability and binding affinity.