Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of neuroactive compounds and enzyme inhibitors. Its structural features make it valuable in creating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs, which are explored for treating central nervous system disorders such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety. The naphthyl group enhances lipophilicity and receptor binding affinity, improving blood-brain barrier penetration. It is also employed in asymmetric synthesis and medicinal chemistry research for structure-activity relationship studies.