Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of serotonergic agents. It serves as a building block in the preparation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and related antidepressants due to its ability to mimic structural motifs found in active neurochemicals. Its carbamate and ketone functionalities allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug potency and metabolic stability. Also employed in research settings to study receptor binding and neurotransmitter modulation.