Used as a chiral intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that require high enantiomeric purity. Its structure supports the formation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, which are common motifs in bioactive molecules. Commonly employed in the production of central nervous system (CNS) agents, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, due to its ability to mimic natural neurotransmitters. Also utilized in the preparation of protease inhibitors and other enzyme-targeted drugs. The tert-butyl carbamate (Boc) protection allows for selective reactivity, making it valuable in multi-step organic synthesis and combinatorial chemistry.