Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its chiral structure makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis, where stereochemistry plays a critical role in drug efficacy. Commonly employed in the preparation of peptide mimetics and enzyme inhibitors, it helps improve metabolic stability and bioavailability in drug design. Also utilized in research settings for exploring structure-activity relationships in amino acid derivatives.