This compound is primarily utilized in biochemical research as a chiral building block for the synthesis of peptides and other complex molecules. It serves as a precursor in the development of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the creation of drugs targeting neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to neurotransmitters. Additionally, it is employed in studies exploring enzyme mechanisms and receptor interactions, aiding in the understanding of biochemical pathways. Its role in asymmetric synthesis also makes it valuable for producing enantiomerically pure compounds, which are crucial in medicinal chemistry.