Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of angiotensin II receptor antagonists, particularly in the development of sartan-class drugs like candesartan and azilsartan. Its structure mimics acidic amino acid moieties, making it valuable for enhancing binding affinity to biological targets. Also explored in the design of enzyme inhibitors due to its ability to act as a bioisostere for carboxylic acid groups. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for optimizing pharmacokinetic properties such as metabolic stability and solubility.