Used in peptide synthesis as a building block to introduce the 4-methyl-D-phenylalanine moiety into peptide chains. It is particularly valuable in the production of modified peptides for research in drug development, where specific structural modifications are needed to enhance biological activity or stability. The Boc protecting group ensures selective reactions during synthesis, allowing for the precise construction of complex peptide sequences. This compound is also utilized in the study of enzyme-substrate interactions and the development of enzyme inhibitors, where the methyl group on the phenyl ring can influence binding affinity and selectivity.