Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that target central nervous system disorders. Its structure allows for functionalization at the aldehyde group, enabling the formation of carbon-carbon bonds or conversion into amine derivatives for use in drug design. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for building complex piperidine-based molecules with potential bioactivity. Also utilized in research settings for creating libraries of compounds in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.