Used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules and drug candidates. Its aldehyde functional group allows for further derivatization, such as reductive amination or condensation reactions, enabling the construction of complex amines or heterocyclic structures. The tert-butyl ester group provides stability during synthetic transformations and can be selectively deprotected under acidic conditions. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for modifying piperidine-based scaffolds, which are prevalent in central nervous system agents, receptor agonists, and enzyme inhibitors.