Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules and drug candidates. Its structure supports the construction of complex piperidine-based derivatives, which are common in medicinal chemistry for central nervous system agents, receptor modulators, and enzyme inhibitors. The tert-butyl carbamate (Boc) group provides protection during peptide or alkaloid synthesis, allowing selective reactivity. The α,β-unsaturated ester moiety enables conjugate addition reactions, making it valuable in building molecular complexity through carbon–carbon bond formation. Commonly employed in research settings for designing small molecule therapeutics.