Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its protected amine and carboxylic acid functionalities allow for selective coupling reactions in peptide synthesis. The Cbz group enables easy deprotection under mild conditions, making it ideal for multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and structurally complex drugs where stereochemistry is critical for activity.