Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules with central nervous system activity. Its structure supports the construction of complex pyrrolidine-based scaffolds, which are common in drug discovery for their conformational rigidity and ability to mimic peptide bonds. The hydroxyl and ester functional groups allow for selective modifications, enabling the introduction of various substituents during multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in research settings for preparing proline analogs and enzyme inhibitors.