(R)-2-(Trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy)propionic acid methyl ester is an intermediate in the synthesis of N-[3-(N-L-Alanyl)-amino-3-carboxypropyl]-D-histidine Trihydrochloride (A510975), which is an analog of Nicotianamine (N408500), a phytosiderophore that is produced in higher plants as iron chelating amino acids that promote uptake of iron from soil.