Used as a key intermediate in carbohydrate chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Its main application lies in the preparation of biologically active sugar derivatives, including those found in antibiotics and antiviral agents. The benzoyl protecting groups allow selective reactivity, enabling controlled glycosylation reactions. It is also employed in the development of vaccines and natural product analogs where precise stereochemistry is critical. Commonly used in research settings for constructing glycosidic bonds via Ferrier rearrangement or palladium-catalyzed glycosylations.