Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate in the synthesis of protease inhibitors, particularly in the development of antiviral agents. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for creating highly selective drug candidates targeting specific enzyme active sites. Commonly employed in studies related to HIV and hepatitis C treatments due to its ability to enhance binding affinity and metabolic stability in peptidomimetic compounds. Also utilized in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize potency and reduce off-target effects in central nervous system drug discovery.