This chemical is widely used as a chiral building block in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Its structure, containing a tetrahydrofuran ring and a hydroxyl group, makes it valuable for creating enantiomerically pure compounds, which are critical in drug development. It is particularly useful in the production of antiviral and anticancer agents, where its stereochemistry plays a key role in enhancing the efficacy and specificity of the drugs. Additionally, it serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of complex organic molecules, including natural products and fine chemicals, due to its ability to introduce chirality and functional groups efficiently. Its application extends to asymmetric catalysis, where it is employed to produce optically active compounds in high yield and purity.