Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of nootropic and central nervous system agents. Its structural motif is valuable in creating biologically active molecules due to the presence of both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups in a stereospecific configuration. The thiophene ring enhances binding affinity in certain receptor systems, making it useful in medicinal chemistry for designing drugs with improved selectivity and potency. Also employed in asymmetric synthesis and as an intermediate in the preparation of peptidomimetics.