Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of drugs targeting central nervous system disorders. Its structural features allow for selective functionalization, making it valuable in creating chiral building blocks for medicinal chemistry. Commonly employed in the preparation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs and other bioactive molecules where ring strain and stereochemistry influence biological activity. Also utilized in the design of enzyme inhibitors due to its constrained cyclobutane framework.