Used in the synthesis of antiviral drugs, particularly as an intermediate in the production of nucleoside analogs. It serves as a chiral building block in the development of pharmaceuticals targeting RNA viruses, including hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2. Its rigid, polycyclic structure with multiple oxygen-containing rings helps mimic sugar moieties in nucleosides, enhancing binding selectivity to viral polymerases. Commonly employed in stereoselective synthesis to maintain desired configuration in active pharmaceutical ingredients.