Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of central nervous system agents and protease inhibitors. Its trifluoromethyl group enhances metabolic stability and lipophilicity, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for improving drug bioavailability. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis to introduce chirality, it serves as a precursor in the preparation of bioactive molecules, including antidepressants and antiviral compounds. Also utilized in the design of enzyme inhibitors due to its structural rigidity and electronic properties.