L-(-)-Talose is primarily used in biochemical research as a specialized sugar for studying enzyme mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolism. It serves as a substrate or inhibitor in experiments to understand the specificity and function of enzymes like kinases, isomerases, and glycosidases. Additionally, it is employed in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, which are essential for investigating cell signaling and immune responses. Its unique structure also makes it valuable in the development of chiral building blocks for pharmaceutical research, particularly in the design of drugs targeting carbohydrate-related pathways.