Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of protease inhibitors, particularly for the development of antiviral agents. Its structural features enable strong binding to enzyme active sites, making it valuable in designing drugs targeting viral replication. Also explored in the study of anti-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease treatments due to its ability to modulate cellular signaling pathways. Commonly employed in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize drug candidates for improved potency and metabolic stability.