Glycolaldehyde dimer may be used in the synthesis of 3,4-diaza-2-hexene-1,6-diol, which can undergo hydrogenation to form 1,2-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)hydrazine. It undergoes cycloaddition with 2,3-dihydrofuran in the presence of a chiral catalyst to form fused bicyclic tetrahydrofuran (bis-THF) alcohol, a key moiety of HIV protease inhibitors.
