Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its protected amine and carboxylate functionalities allow for selective peptide coupling, making it valuable in solid-phase and solution-phase peptide synthesis. The benzyl carbamate (Cbz) group provides stability during reactions and can be removed under mild conditions, enabling efficient deprotection in multi-step syntheses. Commonly employed in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and structurally complex drugs where stereochemistry is critical for biological activity.