Used as a chiral building block in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Its structure allows for stereochemical control in asymmetric synthesis, making it valuable in the development of enantiomerically pure drugs. Commonly employed in the synthesis of amine-containing compounds where phenyl groups provide steric and electronic stabilization. Also utilized as a resolving agent for racemic mixtures due to its ability to form diastereomeric salts with chiral acids.