Used in antiviral research, particularly in the development of nucleoside analogs that inhibit viral replication. The compound acts as a modified nucleoside, interfering with RNA or DNA synthesis in viruses, making it a candidate for studying antiviral agents against RNA viruses. Its fluorine substitution enhances metabolic stability and influences binding affinity to viral polymerases. It is primarily employed in laboratory settings for probing mechanisms of viral inhibition and designing potential therapeutic agents.