Used as a chiral epoxide intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of beta-blockers and other pharmaceuticals. Its activated ester group allows for selective nucleophilic attack on the epoxide, enabling controlled ring-opening reactions. The 4-nitrobenzoate moiety also serves as a temporary protecting group for the primary alcohol, which can be removed under mild conditions using weak nucleophiles such as hydroxide ion or ammonia, making it suitable for multi-step syntheses. The compound is valuable in asymmetric synthesis due to its stereochemical integrity, facilitating the construction of complex molecules with high enantiomeric purity. Commonly employed in the development of cardioselective drugs and as a building block in medicinal chemistry research.