Used primarily as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. Its structure supports binding to neural receptors, making it valuable in creating antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs. The presence of both piperidine and trifluoromethylpyridine moieties enhances blood-brain barrier penetration and receptor affinity. It is also employed in research for novel kinase inhibitors and in the preparation of ligands for positron emission tomography (PET) tracers used in neuroimaging.