Used as a selective antagonist for group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2 and mGluR3) in neuroscience research, aiding in the study of glutamate signaling, synaptic modulation, and neuronal excitability. Employed in experiments to block presynaptic mGluR activity, helping to understand roles in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, epilepsy, pain modulation, anxiety, and cognitive functions like learning and memory. Also utilized in biochemical assays as a phosphonate analog to investigate phosphatase inhibition and amino acid metabolism, particularly in studies involving alkaline phosphatases and transaminases. Its structural similarity to glutamic acid enables applications in metabolic pathway research and development of receptor-targeted therapeutics. Partially crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it suitable for in vivo animal models.