(R)-Methyl 2,3-dihydroxypropanoate is a chiral building block primarily utilized in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly for antiviral nucleoside analogs and other enantiomerically pure compounds. Its (R)-configuration and dihydroxy functionality enable asymmetric synthesis routes to biologically active molecules, such as those used in carbohydrate chemistry and drug development for infectious diseases. It also serves as a precursor in fine chemicals and agrochemicals, where stereospecificity is critical for efficacy. In organic synthesis, it is employed to construct complex structures with high purity, contributing to advanced materials and specialty applications.