Used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the development of peptide-based drugs and enzyme inhibitors. The tert-butyl ester protects the carboxylate group, enabling selective reactions at the amine groups in multi-step organic syntheses. Commonly employed in the preparation of beta-amino acids and other bioactive molecules where stereochemistry plays a critical role in biological activity. Also utilized in the production of specialty polymers and ligands for asymmetric catalysis.