Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active ingredients requiring high enantiomeric purity. Its structural features make it valuable in asymmetric synthesis, where it serves as an intermediate in the production of neuroactive compounds and central nervous system agents. The hydroxymethyl group allows for further functionalization, enabling incorporation into more complex molecules. It is also employed in the preparation of ligands for catalytic reactions, supporting the creation of stereochemically defined products in medicinal chemistry research.