Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) where protection of the piperidine nitrogen is required. The Boc (tert-butoxycarbonyl) group allows for selective protection during multi-step syntheses, enabling controlled reactions at other functional sites. The hydroxyalkyl side chain provides a handle for further chemical modification, such as coupling reactions or derivatization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecules, especially in the design of central nervous system agents or receptor modulators. Its structure supports the creation of analogs in drug discovery programs targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders.