Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its enantiomerically pure structure makes it valuable for creating stereoselective drugs, where the (R)-configuration is essential for biological activity. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug potency and selectivity. Also utilized in the preparation of peptidomimetics and as an intermediate in the manufacture of enzyme inhibitors.