Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of antidiabetic drugs. It serves as a chiral building block in medicinal chemistry due to its stable ring structure and functional groups that allow for selective modifications. Its derivatives are found in glucokinase activators, which are investigated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Also employed in the preparation of bioactive molecules and enzyme inhibitors where structural rigidity and stereochemistry are important.