Used primarily as an intermediate in the synthesis of antiviral medications, particularly in the development of drugs targeting herpesviruses. Its structure allows for modification to enhance bioavailability and selectivity, making it valuable in pharmaceutical research. It is also explored in the design of nucleoside analogs that interfere with viral DNA replication. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for optimizing drug candidates due to its ability to mimic natural purine bases while resisting metabolic degradation.