Widely used in biochemical research, this compound serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of glycoproteins and glycolipids. It is instrumental in studying cellular recognition processes, as it mimics natural sugar moieties involved in cell signaling and immune responses. Due to its structural similarity to natural amino sugars, it is also employed in the development of enzyme inhibitors, particularly for glycosidases and glycosyltransferases, which are relevant in diabetes, cancer, and infectious disease research. Additionally, it finds use in the production of hyaluronic acid derivatives for dermatological and pharmaceutical applications, including drug delivery systems and wound healing formulations.