Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of anticonvulsant and neuropharmacological drugs. As a constrained analog of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), its cis configuration allows for selective interaction with biological targets such as GABA-B receptors, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for designing enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators. Commonly employed in research settings to explore agents for neurological disorders like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic pain due to its resemblance to neurotransmitter structures.