Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring chiral building blocks. Its aldehyde functionality allows for versatile reactivity, enabling transformations such as reductive amination and nucleophilic addition, which are common in drug discovery. Frequently employed in the preparation of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules due to its structural compatibility with cyclic ethers and its ability to mimic sugar-like scaffolds. Also utilized in the fragrance industry as a precursor for stabilizing aldehyde-based aroma compounds.