N-Acetyl-2-deoxy-2-azido-alpha-neuraminic acid is primarily used in glycobiology research for the study of sialic acid metabolism and its role in cellular processes. It serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of sialic acid analogs, which are valuable tools for probing sialyltransferase activity and understanding sialic acid-mediated interactions in biological systems. This compound is also utilized in the development of glycan-based vaccines and therapeutics, as it can be incorporated into glycoconjugates to modulate immune responses. Additionally, its azido group enables click chemistry applications, facilitating the labeling and visualization of sialic acid-containing molecules in cells and tissues.