Used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) analogs and enzyme inhibitors. It serves in the preparation of bioactive molecules targeting metabolic and neurological disorders. Its structure supports derivatization for use in medicinal chemistry, especially in creating compounds with potential antiviral or neuroprotective activity. Also employed in research settings to design enzyme substrates and probes for biochemical assays.