Used as a reagent in the identification and optimization of pteridinone Toll-like receptor 7 agonists, which can be used for the oral treatment of viral hepatitis. 4-(Hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran is also a starting material for [1-[(Tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl](2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)methanone which is a drug that acts as CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist.