Used as a key intermediate in organic synthesis, particularly in the preparation of nucleoside analogs and antiviral agents. Its structure allows for selective glycosylation reactions, making it valuable in the development of pharmaceuticals targeting viral infections. The presence of the p-toluenesulfonate group facilitates displacement reactions, enabling the introduction of various nucleobases or functional groups. It is also employed in carbohydrate chemistry for constructing modified sugar moieties used in drug design and biochemical research.