Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of biologically active compounds, particularly in the development of pharmaceuticals targeting protease enzymes. Its structure supports peptide mimicry, making it valuable in designing inhibitors for viral or metabolic diseases. The tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) protecting group allows for controlled stepwise synthesis in complex molecule assembly, while the ethyl ester moiety can be hydrolyzed to introduce carboxylic acid functionality for further derivatization. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies due to its stereochemical and functional group versatility.