DL-Pipecolic acid is used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds. It serves as a chiral building block in organic synthesis, particularly in the development of peptidomimetics and enzyme inhibitors. Due to its structural similarity to natural amino acids, it is employed in research related to neurological disorders, as it can modulate neurotransmitter systems. It is also utilized in the study of metabolic pathways and in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds for drug discovery. Its presence in some proline-rich peptides makes it valuable in biochemical assays and medicinal chemistry research.