Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents. It serves as a building block for alkaloid-like structures found in bioactive molecules, including those with potential antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anti-addiction properties. Its scaffold is also explored in the design of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators due to its favorable binding characteristics with biological targets. Additionally, it finds use in medicinal chemistry research for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives.