Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and antiviral agents. Its structure supports chiral synthesis, making it valuable in creating enantiomerically pure drugs. Commonly employed in research settings for designing enzyme inhibitors due to its ability to mimic peptide bonds and interact with active sites. Also utilized in the preparation of bioactive molecules where steric protection and metabolic stability are required, thanks to the tert-butyl ester group.