Used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents. It serves as a chiral building block in the production of certain antidepressants and anxiolytic drugs due to its structural similarity to active metabolites of some psychoactive compounds. Its enantiomeric purity makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis for drug development. Also employed in research settings for studying serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition mechanisms.