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 structurally defined intermediates in drug discovery. Commonly employed in the preparation of antiviral agents and enzyme inhibitors where precise 3D orientation is critical for biological activity. The Boc-protected amine and carboxylic acid functionalities allow for straightforward incorporation into peptide-like structures and further derivatization in multi-step organic syntheses.