Used as a key chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of protease inhibitors and other bioactive molecules. Its rigid bicyclic structure and defined stereochemistry make it valuable for designing drugs with high selectivity and improved metabolic stability. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, especially in optimizing compounds targeting central nervous system disorders and viral infections. The Boc-protected amine and carboxylic acid functionalities allow for straightforward incorporation into peptide-like frameworks and heterocyclic systems.