Used as a chiral intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its structural features, including the cyano group and carboxylic acid functionality, allow for further chemical modifications, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for constructing complex drug candidates. The Boc-protected amine group enables controlled deprotection and coupling reactions in peptide-like synthesis, supporting its role in creating enantiomerically pure therapeutics.