Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of opioid antagonists and receptor modulators. Its aldehyde functional group allows for further chemical modifications, such as reductive amination or condensation reactions, enabling the construction of complex nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The presence of the Cbz-protected piperidine ring makes it valuable in multi-step organic syntheses where selective deprotection and coupling are required. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for the preparation of protease inhibitors and central nervous system agents.