This compound is primarily used in peptide synthesis as a protected amino acid derivative. Its fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group serves as a temporary protecting group for the amino functionality, which can be selectively removed under mild basic conditions, allowing for the stepwise construction of peptides. The presence of the o-tolyl group adds steric and electronic properties that can influence the peptide's structure and function. It is particularly valuable in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), where it enables the precise assembly of complex peptide chains. Additionally, its chiral nature makes it useful in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure peptides, which are crucial in pharmaceutical research and development.