Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of statins and other lipid-lowering cardiovascular drugs. Its stereochemistry allows for selective interactions in biological systems, making it valuable in asymmetric synthesis. Commonly employed in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, where enantiomeric purity is critical for efficacy and safety. Also utilized in research settings for designing enzyme inhibitors and metabolic probes.