Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other biologically active molecules. Its hydroxy and carboxylic acid functional groups allow for further chemical modifications, enabling the construction of complex drug scaffolds. The Boc-protected azetidine ring provides structural stability and controlled reactivity during multi-step syntheses, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for creating novel therapeutics with improved metabolic stability and target selectivity.