Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of beta-lactam antibiotics. Its structure supports the construction of complex molecules by providing a protected azetidine ring, which is valuable in medicinal chemistry for enhancing metabolic stability and bioavailability. Commonly employed in solid-phase and solution-phase peptide-like synthesis where selective protection and mild deprotection are required. Also utilized in research settings for creating enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands due to its conformational rigidity and functional group compatibility.