Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of sialic acid derivatives, which play important roles in pharmaceutical research, particularly in the development of antiviral drugs and glycoconjugate vaccines. It serves as a glycosyl donor in the preparation of sialylated oligosaccharides found on cell surfaces, crucial for studying cell recognition, immune response, and pathogen invasion. Its protected acetyl groups and activated thio linkage make it valuable in stereoselective glycosylation reactions for constructing complex carbohydrate structures.