Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the production of protease inhibitors and other biologically active compounds. Its chiral structure makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis, where it serves as a building block for enantiomerically pure drugs. Also employed in the development of enzyme inhibitors due to its ability to mimic reaction intermediates in peptide hydrolysis. Additionally, it finds use in specialty polymers and as a ligand in catalysis.