Used in pharmaceutical research as a chiral building block for the synthesis of various drugs, particularly those targeting neurological disorders. It serves as a precursor in the production of enantiomerically pure compounds, enhancing the efficacy and specificity of therapeutic agents. Additionally, it is employed in the development of peptide mimetics and bioactive molecules due to its structural similarity to natural amino acids. Its hydrochloride form improves solubility, making it suitable for use in aqueous-based formulations and laboratory experiments.