Used in glycosylation reactions to synthesize complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, this compound serves as a key intermediate in the preparation of oligosaccharides and glycoproteins. Its azide group allows for selective transformations via click chemistry, particularly in bioorthogonal ligation strategies for labeling and conjugating biomolecules. Commonly employed in the development of glyco-vaccines and diagnostic probes, it enables precise attachment of sugar moieties to proteins and lipids. Also utilized in enzymatic and chemoenzymatic synthesis to study carbohydrate-processing enzymes and design enzyme inhibitors.