Used primarily as a protected form of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), serving as a key intermediate and glycosyl donor in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates. It plays crucial roles in pharmaceutical research, particularly in the development of antiviral drugs, glycoconjugate vaccines, and therapeutics targeting immune responses and cellular interactions. Additionally, it is employed in the preparation of labeled carbohydrates for biochemical assays and studies of glycan-mediated processes such as cell recognition, signaling, and pathogen adhesion. The multiple acetyl protecting groups facilitate selective deprotection, activation, and coupling in multi-step carbohydrate synthesis, making it essential in glycobiology, drug discovery, and biotechnology.