Used in pharmaceutical research and development, particularly in the study of glycosidase inhibitors and antiviral agents. It serves as a key intermediate in synthesizing iminosugars, which mimic natural sugars and interfere with viral replication processes. Its structural similarity to monosaccharides allows it to bind effectively to enzyme active sites, making it valuable in designing drugs for diabetes, viral infections like HIV and hepatitis, and lysosomal storage disorders. Also employed in the production of diagnostic tools and probes for enzymatic activity studies.