Used as a key chiral intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of antiviral and antidiabetic drugs. Its structural features enable effective binding to specific enzyme targets, making it valuable in optimizing drug potency and selectivity. Commonly employed in the production of protease inhibitors due to its ability to mimic natural amino acid substrates while providing enhanced metabolic stability. Also utilized in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to improve pharmacokinetic properties of new drug candidates.