Used in pharmaceutical synthesis as a chiral building block for producing beta-hydroxy esters and other fine chemicals. Serves as a precursor in the manufacture of certain antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. Employed in research settings for metabolic studies due to its structural similarity to endogenous metabolites. Also utilized in some electroplating baths as a complexing agent to improve metal deposition efficiency. Shows application in the development of biodegradable polymers when polymerized with diols or anhydrides.