Used in organic synthesis as a chiral building block for the preparation of complex natural products and bioactive molecules. Its strained ring system makes it valuable in medicinal chemistry for exploring novel scaffolds with potential pharmacological activity. Commonly employed in the development of prostaglandin analogs and other cyclic compounds where conformational rigidity influences biological response. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis due to the presence of a stereogenic center and functional handle (hydroxymethyl group) for further derivatization.