Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of nootropic and neuroprotective agents. Its structure supports the formation of cyclic amino acid derivatives that can cross the blood-brain barrier, making it valuable in creating cognitive-enhancing drugs. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for building piperidone-based scaffolds found in active compounds targeting neurological disorders. Also utilized in research settings for designing enzyme inhibitors and studying metabolic pathways involving amino acid analogs.