Used in research as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, this compound serves as a key intermediate in the development of pharmaceuticals targeting central nervous system disorders. It has been investigated for its potential in treating depression and anxiety due to its ability to modulate noradrenergic activity. Its structural features allow for high affinity binding to norepinephrine transporters, making it valuable in the design of antidepressants. Additionally, it is employed in medicinal chemistry studies to explore structure-activity relationships in substituted benzeneacetamides.