Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable for constructing complex molecules with high enantioselectivity. Commonly employed in peptide mimetics and drug discovery research where structural rigidity and defined configuration are critical. The Boc-protected amine and carboxylic acid functionalities allow for straightforward coupling and deprotection steps in multi-step organic syntheses.