Used in pharmaceutical research as a key intermediate for synthesizing neuroactive compounds, particularly those targeting glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. Shows potential in the development of treatments for neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease due to its structural similarity to excitatory amino acids. Also employed in the study of quinoline-based receptor ligands for probing synaptic transmission mechanisms. Its chiral purity makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis and medicinal chemistry for creating enantioselective drug candidates.