Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, especially in the preparation of beta-lactam antibiotics and other bioactive molecules. Its protected amine group allows for selective reactivity in multi-step organic syntheses. The oxetane ring contributes metabolic stability and improved pharmacokinetic properties in drug design, making this compound valuable in medicinal chemistry for developing protease inhibitors and antiviral agents. It is also employed in the construction of complex molecular architectures where ring strain and polarity influence reaction pathways.