Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, particularly in the preparation of biologically active oligosaccharides and glycosaminoglycan analogs. Its protected functional groups allow selective glycosylation, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for developing glycosidase inhibitors and antiviral agents. Commonly employed in solid-phase and solution-phase oligosaccharide assembly due to its stability and stereocontrol during glycosylation reactions.