Used primarily as an intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in pharmaceutical and agrochemical manufacturing. Its tert-butyl ester group acts as a protecting group for carboxylic acids, allowing selective reactions at other functional sites during multi-step syntheses. The cyclobutane ring provides structural rigidity, making it valuable in the design of bioactive molecules where conformational control is important. It is also employed in the preparation of specialty polymers and in medicinal chemistry for building complex molecular frameworks.