Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the preparation of antibacterial agents like linezolid (used to treat resistant gram-positive bacterial infections such as MRSA) and other oxazolidinone-class drugs. Its structural features enable stereo-selective reactions, making it valuable in asymmetric synthesis. Also employed in the development of bioactive molecules where a five-membered heterocyclic scaffold with a hydroxymethyl group is required. Its hydroxyl functionality allows for further chemical modifications, such as esterification or ether formation, facilitating the creation of diverse compound libraries for drug discovery.