Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of certain antidepressants and anxiolytic agents. Its structure allows for the introduction of cyclobutyl and amino nitrile functionalities, which are valuable in building active pharmaceutical ingredients. It is also employed in the development of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators due to its ability to mimic amino acid motifs. In research, it serves as a building block for heterocyclic compounds and is utilized in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.