Used primarily as a chiral building block in organic synthesis, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for constructing enantiomerically pure compounds, such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring specific handedness for biological activity. Commonly employed in the synthesis of fragrances and flavoring agents due to its cyclic ketone structure, which contributes to musky or herbal notes. Also serves as an intermediate in the preparation of agrochemicals and specialty polymers where chirality influences performance. Its reactivity allows for selective transformations, including reductions, enolizations, and asymmetric alkylations, enabling efficient route design in complex molecule assembly.