Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of bioactive molecules requiring stereochemical control. It features a free hydroxyl group at the 2-position and a protected amine (Boc-carbamate) at the 1-position of the cyclobutane ring, allowing selective reactions in multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for constructing constrained cyclic scaffolds that enhance metabolic stability and target binding selectivity.