4-Bromo-2-fluorobenzonitrile is used as a reagent in the synthesis of picolinamide derivatives as a novel class of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitors. 4-Bromo-2-fluorobenzonitrile is also used in the preparation of fluorinated CB2 receptor agonists for PET imaging.