Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring high enantiomeric purity. Its structure supports the development of peptidomimetics and enzyme inhibitors. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis to introduce the phenylglycine moiety, which is found in several beta-lactam antibiotics and other bioactive molecules. Also utilized in the preparation of intermediates for drugs targeting the central nervous system and in the development of protease inhibitors.