Used in the synthesis of certain pharmaceuticals, particularly as an intermediate in the production of drugs targeting neurological and metabolic disorders. Its chiral structure makes it valuable in developing enantioselective medications, where the (R)-enantiomer provides specific biological activity. It also serves as a building block in peptidomimetic compounds, helping design stable, bioavailable peptide analogs for research and therapeutic use. Additionally, it is employed in studies related to amino acid metabolism and enzyme inhibition.