Cytarabine 5'-monophosphate is a phosphorylated derivative of cytarabine (ara-C), a nucleoside analog used primarily as a research reagent and biochemical intermediate. It serves as a key metabolite in the activation pathway of cytarabine, which is converted intracellularly to its active triphosphate form to inhibit DNA polymerase and incorporate into DNA, disrupting synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. This compound is employed in laboratory settings to study nucleotide metabolism, DNA replication mechanisms, and the effects of antimetabolites on cell cycle regulation. It is not typically used directly in clinical therapy but supports pharmaceutical research and development for anticancer agents targeting hematologic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Purity is typically ≥98% for research applications.