Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of muscle relaxants and central nervous system agents. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for creating biologically active compounds with high selectivity. Commonly employed in research settings to design analogs of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for studying neurological pathways and developing treatments for neurological disorders. Also utilized in the preparation of chiral building blocks for asymmetric synthesis in medicinal chemistry.