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 complex molecules with high enantioselectivity. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship studies due to the stability and conformational rigidity it imparts to peptide-like structures. Also utilized in the preparation of intermediates for drug candidates targeting viral infections and metabolic disorders.