Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its protected amino group and free carboxyl function, along with the protected side-chain hydroxy group, make it suitable for peptide coupling reactions, allowing selective formation of amide bonds in complex molecule assembly while preventing unwanted side reactions. Commonly employed in asymmetric synthesis due to its stereochemical purity, it helps introduce specific chirality in drug candidates. Also utilized in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors where precise spatial arrangement of functional groups is critical for biological activity.