Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of neuroactive compounds. It serves as a building block for drugs targeting neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to amino acid neurotransmitters. Its chloropyridine moiety enhances binding affinity to specific receptors in the central nervous system, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing nootropics and potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Also employed in research settings to study receptor activation and inhibition mechanisms.