Used as an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its cyano and azetidine functional groups enable ring expansion and nucleophilic addition reactions, making it valuable in constructing nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The Cbz-protected amine allows for selective deprotection and further functionalization in multi-step synthetic routes. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug candidates targeting viral infections and oncology pathways.