Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of drugs requiring specific stereochemistry for optimal biological activity. Its functional groups—carboxylic acid and acetoxy—allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in creating intermediates for anti-inflammatory or central nervous system agents. The defined stereochemistry (1R,2R,4R) ensures high enantioselectivity in drug synthesis, improving efficacy and reducing unwanted side effects.