Widely used in organic synthesis, particularly as a building block for the preparation of amino acids and their derivatives. It serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids through alkylation and subsequent hydrolysis. Its structure allows for selective functionalization at the α-carbon, making it valuable in the development of pharmaceuticals, especially peptide mimetics and enzyme inhibitors. Commonly employed in the synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics and other biologically active compounds where precise stereochemistry is required. Also utilized in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds due to its versatile reactivity under various condensation and cyclization conditions.