Used in pharmaceutical research as a glycosylation inhibitor, particularly in studies related to glycoprotein biosynthesis. It serves as a structural analog in the development of antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents due to its ability to interfere with carbohydrate-processing enzymes. Also employed in the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides for vaccine development and cell signaling studies. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable in designing enzyme inhibitors targeting metabolic pathways in cancer and infectious diseases.