Used as a chiral building block in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of complex molecules like pharmaceuticals and natural products. It serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of nucleosides, nucleotides, and other biologically active compounds. The tosyl and isopropylidene protecting groups enhance its reactivity and selectivity in multi-step reactions. It is also employed in the development of asymmetric catalysts and ligands for enantioselective transformations. Its stereochemistry makes it valuable in constructing chiral centers with high precision.