Used in biochemical research as a substrate to study enzyme mechanisms, particularly glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. It serves as a mimic for natural glycosyl donors in enzymatic reactions, aiding in understanding carbohydrate metabolism. Applied in the synthesis of glycosides and oligosaccharides, it acts as a glycosyl donor in glycosylation reactions. Also utilized in medicinal chemistry for developing glycosidase inhibitors, which have potential therapeutic applications in treating diseases like diabetes and viral infections. Its stability and reactivity make it valuable in probing glycosylation pathways and designing glycomimetics.