Used primarily in peptide synthesis as a chiral building block, this compound serves as a protected amino acid derivative that enables the controlled assembly of complex peptides. Its fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group allows for mild base-labile protection of the amine functionality, making it compatible with Fmoc-strategy solid-phase peptide synthesis.

The naphthyl side chain provides a bulky aromatic moiety that can influence peptide conformation and enhance binding selectivity in bioactive peptides. It is particularly useful in the development of enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands where stereochemistry and aromatic interactions play a critical role.

Additionally, its structural features make it suitable for research in asymmetric synthesis and chiral catalyst design.