Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly in the development of penicillin and cephalosporin analogs. Its strained azetidine ring enhances reactivity in ring-opening and acylation reactions, making it valuable in constructing complex antibiotic scaffolds. Also employed in medicinal chemistry for creating protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules where ring strain and fluorinated groups improve metabolic stability and binding affinity.