Used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents. It serves as a chiral building block for drugs targeting neurological disorders due to its structural similarity to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs. Its stereochemistry enables selective interaction with neurotransmitter receptors, making it valuable in creating anticonvulsant and analgesic compounds. Also employed in research for designing enzyme inhibitors and studying amino acid transport mechanisms.