Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of centrally acting agents such as antiviral and neurological drugs. Its structure provides a rigid cyclopentane backbone that mimics bioactive conformations, making it valuable in drug design for enhancing selectivity and metabolic stability. Commonly employed in the preparation of protease inhibitors and receptor modulators due to its ability to influence binding affinity and pharmacokinetic properties. Also utilized in research settings for the construction of novel cyclic amino acid derivatives and peptidomimetics.