Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of centrally acting drugs such as analgesics and neuropsychiatric agents. Its structure supports the creation of compounds that interact with neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Commonly employed in the preparation of selective opioid receptor modulators due to the presence of functional groups that enhance binding affinity and metabolic stability. Also utilized in medicinal chemistry for designing novel piperidine-based bioactive molecules with improved pharmacokinetic profiles.