Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its structure allows for selective modifications in peptide-based drug design, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry. The carboxylic acid and protected amine functionalities enable coupling reactions and stepwise assembly of complex molecules, especially in solid-phase and solution-phase peptide synthesis. Commonly employed in research settings for creating libraries of compounds aimed at targeting enzymes involved in metabolic and signaling pathways.