Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) requiring stereochemical control. Its protected amine and reactive chloromethyl group allow for selective functionalization, making it valuable in constructing complex nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Commonly employed in the preparation of protease inhibitors, CNS agents, and other bioactive molecules where the (R)-enantiomer is essential for desired biological activity. The Boc group ensures stability during multi-step syntheses and can be easily removed under mild acidic conditions to reveal the amine for further coupling reactions.