This compound is primarily used in organic synthesis as a building block for the preparation of more complex molecules. It serves as an intermediate in the development of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The Boc (tert-butoxycarbonyl) protecting group is crucial in peptide synthesis, allowing selective reactions at other sites of the molecule. It is also utilized in the creation of drug candidates targeting neurological disorders, as the piperidine moiety is a common structural feature in many CNS-active drugs. Additionally, its carboxylic acid functionality enables further chemical modifications, making it versatile in medicinal chemistry research.