Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system (CNS) agents. Its structural motif appears in compounds targeting neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. The (S)-enantiomer is preferred in certain drug candidates due to its higher biological activity and selectivity. It also serves as an intermediate in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators, especially those involving GABAergic or dopaminergic pathways. Its hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.