Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients where stereochemistry plays a critical role in biological activity. Its functional groups—amine and alcohol—allow for derivatization in multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in the preparation of enzyme inhibitors and receptor modulators due to its structural similarity to biologically active amines. Also utilized in asymmetric synthesis as a precursor to chiral ligands and catalysts.