Used as a key intermediate in carbohydrate chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. Its protected hydroxyl groups allow selective functionalization, making it valuable in the construction of biologically active molecules such as vaccines and natural products. The benzylidene acetal group provides regioselective protection, enabling controlled glycosylation at specific positions. Widely employed in the preparation of mannose-containing structures found in microbial polysaccharides and glycoproteins.