Used in biochemical research as a key intermediate in glycosylation studies and synthesis of complex carbohydrates. Serves as a building block for preparing glycoconjugates and modified sugars that are important in drug development, particularly in vaccines and antibiotics. Also employed in enzymatic assays to study aldose reductase activity, which is relevant in diabetic complication research. Its chiral structure makes it valuable in stereoselective synthesis for pharmaceuticals. Stable under controlled conditions, it supports reproducible results in lab-scale reactions and pathway exploration.