Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protected glycolic acid derivatives. Its tert-butoxy group acts as a protecting group in organic synthesis, allowing selective reactions at other functional sites. Commonly employed in the preparation of esters and amides in drug discovery and peptide chemistry. Also utilized in agrochemical synthesis for building complex molecules requiring controlled reactivity. Its stability under various reaction conditions makes it valuable in multi-step synthetic routes.