Used in the synthesis of nucleoside analogs for antiviral and anticancer drug development. The tri-O-acetyl groups protect the ribose hydroxyls, enabling selective reactions. Serves as an intermediate in the preparation of modified purine ribosides that exhibit biological activity against RNA and DNA viruses. Its halogenated structure (6-chloro-2-iodo) allows selective functionalization, making it valuable in medicinal chemistry for constructing complex nucleoside derivatives. Commonly employed in research settings to develop potential therapeutics targeting viral replication and tumor growth.