Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of antibiotics such as ampicillin and amoxicillin. It serves as an intermediate in the preparation of side chains for β-lactam antibiotics, enabling the formation of key amide bonds. Its racemic nature allows for cost-effective synthesis, with subsequent resolution steps to obtain the desired enantiomer. Also employed in research for developing enzyme inhibitors and asymmetric synthesis.