Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other biologically active molecules. Its protected amine and carboxylic acid functionalities make it suitable for peptide-like coupling reactions, allowing for selective and stepwise construction of complex organic structures. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis due to the stereochemical integrity of the thiazolidine ring, it helps introduce chirality in drug candidates, especially in research targeting metabolic and neurological disorders.