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 asymmetric synthesis, where it helps control the formation of specific enantiomers in drug intermediates. Commonly employed in peptide mimetics and as a precursor in the preparation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The benzyl protecting groups allow for selective deprotection and further functionalization in multi-step synthetic routes.