Used as a chiral building block in pharmaceutical synthesis, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and antiviral drugs. Its strained oxetane ring enhances metabolic stability and improves pharmacokinetic properties in drug candidates. Commonly employed to introduce polarity and hydrogen bonding capability, which helps in modulating solubility and target binding affinity. Also utilized in the synthesis of kinase inhibitors and other bioactive molecules where stereochemistry plays a critical role in activity.