Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of antiviral and anticancer agents, particularly in the development of nucleoside analogs. It serves as a building block for modified purine ribonucleosides that exhibit biological activity against RNA and DNA viruses. Commonly employed in medicinal chemistry for structure-activity relationship studies due to the presence of reactive halogen groups that allow further functionalization. Also utilized in the preparation of labeled nucleosides for biochemical assays and enzyme inhibition studies.