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 amino acids that interact with neurotransmitter receptors. Commonly employed in the preparation of anticonvulsant and antidepressant compounds. Also utilized in research for designing enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis and medicinal chemistry for optimizing biological activity.