Used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. It serves as a building block for ligands targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors due to the presence of the pyridinylpiperidine moiety. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize drug candidates for neurological disorders such as depression, cognitive impairment, and addiction. Its tert-butyl carbamate (Boc) group allows for selective protection during multi-step synthesis, enabling controlled functionalization of the piperidine nitrogen. Also utilized in the preparation of kinase inhibitors and receptor modulators in research settings.