Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for constructing enantioselective intermediates in drug discovery. Commonly employed in the preparation of compounds targeting viral infections and central nervous system disorders due to its ability to mimic natural amino acid structures while providing metabolic stability. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis and as a scaffold in medicinal chemistry for optimizing potency and selectivity of drug candidates.