Used in pharmaceutical research as a deuterated analog for metabolic stability studies, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors. The compound's fluorinated and deuterated structure enhances its resistance to enzymatic degradation, making it valuable in pharmacokinetic evaluations. It serves as an internal standard in mass spectrometry-based assays due to its isotopic labeling, allowing precise quantification of similar non-deuterated drug candidates. Its sulfone-containing aryl group contributes to target binding affinity, supporting its role in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.