Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds. It serves as a building block for potent PDE10A inhibitors, which are investigated for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Its structure allows for selective binding and modulation of enzyme activity in the brain, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing novel therapeutics. Also employed in research settings to explore structure-activity relationships in heterocyclic compounds targeting neurotransmitter pathways.