Used as a chiral intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring high enantiomeric purity. Its protected piperidine structure with a hydroxyethyl group makes it valuable in constructing complex molecules for central nervous system agents, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. The tert-butyl carbamate (Boc) group allows for selective protection during peptide coupling or heterocycle formation, enabling stepwise assembly in multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies due to its stereochemical stability and functional group compatibility.