This chemical is primarily utilized in the synthesis of nucleoside analogs, which are crucial in the development of antiviral and anticancer drugs. Its structure serves as a key building block for modifying sugar moieties in nucleosides, enhancing their therapeutic efficacy and selectivity. Additionally, it is employed in the preparation of chiral intermediates for pharmaceuticals, contributing to the production of enantiomerically pure compounds. Its role in carbohydrate chemistry also makes it valuable for studying enzyme mechanisms and designing inhibitors for glycosidases. Furthermore, it finds applications in organic synthesis for constructing complex molecules with high stereochemical control.