Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the development of pharmaceuticals. It serves as a building block for drugs targeting central nervous system disorders due to the presence of the piperidine ring, which is common in neuroactive compounds. Also employed in the preparation of receptor agonists and antagonists, especially in research related to pain management and psychiatric conditions. Its phenolic hydroxyl group allows for easy modification, enabling the creation of esters, ethers, or conjugates to improve drug solubility or bioavailability. Additionally, it has been explored in the design of enzyme inhibitors and as a scaffold in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship studies.