This compound is a key chiral intermediate in the synthesis of triazole antifungal pharmaceuticals, such as posaconazole. Its structure, featuring a 2,4-difluorophenyl moiety, tertiary alcohol, tert-butylamino group, and propanenitrile chain, is incorporated into the active drugs that target fungal cytochrome P450 enzymes (e.g., 14α-demethylase), inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis and fungal growth in pathogens like Candida and Aspergillus species. The nitrile group enables further synthetic modifications to optimize efficacy and safety profiles.