This chemical is primarily used as an intermediate in the synthesis of more complex organic compounds, particularly in pharmaceutical research. It plays a key role in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) due to its functional groups, which allow for further modifications. The tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group acts as a protecting group for amines, enabling selective reactions in multi-step synthetic processes. The compound is often utilized in the preparation of pyrrolidine-based molecules, which are common scaffolds in drug discovery for their potential therapeutic applications. Its ethyl and carboxylic acid groups provide additional sites for chemical transformations, making it a versatile building block in medicinal chemistry.