Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents and analgesics. Its structure provides a rigid piperidine backbone with hydroxymethyl groups that can be further functionalized, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for building bioactive molecules. Commonly employed in the preparation of receptor agonists and antagonists, especially those targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders. Also utilized in the production of specialty polymers and as a building block in asymmetric synthesis due to its potential for chiral derivatization.