Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules targeting central nervous system disorders. Its structural features, including the trifluoromethyl group and hydroxymethyl functionality, make it valuable for optimizing metabolic stability and binding affinity in drug candidates. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for constructing pyrrolidine-based scaffolds that mimic natural amino acids, enhancing peptide stability and receptor selectivity. Also utilized in the preparation of protease inhibitors and ligands for G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The presence of multiple functional handles allows for further derivatization, enabling rapid exploration of structure-activity relationships in drug discovery programs.