Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its stereochemistry allows for selective interactions in asymmetric synthesis, making it valuable in drug discovery. The Boc-protected amine and carboxylic acid functionality enable stepwise peptide-like coupling, facilitating incorporation into complex molecular architectures. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for constructing constrained heterocyclic scaffolds that enhance metabolic stability and target binding affinity.