(S)-2-Hydroxybutanoic acid is a valuable chiral intermediate primarily used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. It functions as a building block to incorporate specific stereochemistry into active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which is crucial for their efficacy and safety. In organic synthesis, it serves as a precursor for various enantiomerically pure compounds. Furthermore, in biochemical research, it acts as a substrate in studies of metabolic pathways, enzyme kinetics, and stereospecific reactions, aiding in the understanding of biological processes such as those involving alpha-hydroxy acids.