Used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors such as those used in antiviral therapies. It serves as a chiral building block in asymmetric synthesis, enabling the production of enantiomerically pure compounds. Its ester and amine functionalities allow for peptide coupling and further functionalization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for drug discovery and optimization. Commonly employed in the preparation of beta-amino acid derivatives and used in research settings for designing enzyme inhibitors.