This compound is primarily used in peptide synthesis as a building block. It serves as a protected amino acid, where the tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group safeguards the amino functionality during the synthesis process. This protection is crucial to prevent unwanted side reactions and ensure the correct sequence of amino acids in the final peptide product. It is particularly valuable in the synthesis of complex peptides and proteins for pharmaceutical research, enabling the creation of specific peptide bonds with high precision. Additionally, its chiral nature makes it useful in the production of enantiomerically pure compounds, which are essential in drug development for achieving desired biological activity.