Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active ingredients for central nervous system drugs. Its structure supports the creation of compounds with specific stereochemistry, which is critical for drug efficacy and safety. Also employed in the preparation of agrochemicals and specialty materials where cyclic ester functionalities are required. The nitrile group allows for further chemical modifications, enabling the production of amines, acids, or heterocyclic derivatives in multi-step synthesis.