This chemical is primarily used in the synthesis of modified nucleosides and nucleotides, which are crucial in the development of oligonucleotides for research and therapeutic applications. It serves as a protective group for the hydroxyl functions on the ribose sugar during chemical reactions, ensuring that specific modifications can be made to the nucleoside without unwanted side reactions. This protection is particularly valuable in the production of antisense oligonucleotides and siRNA, which are used in gene silencing studies and as potential treatments for various genetic disorders. Additionally, it aids in the creation of labeled nucleosides for use in diagnostic assays and molecular biology research.