This chemical is primarily used as a chromogenic substrate in biochemical and enzymatic assays. It is particularly valuable in the study of alpha-glucosidase enzymes, where it aids in detecting and measuring enzyme activity. When the enzyme acts on this substrate, it releases a colored product, allowing researchers to quantify enzyme activity through spectrophotometric methods. This makes it a useful tool in research related to carbohydrate metabolism, enzyme kinetics, and the development of inhibitors for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, it is employed in diagnostic applications to identify enzyme deficiencies or abnormalities in biological samples.