Methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-?-D-ribofuranoside is a heterocycle that is classified as a furanose. It reacts with reactive compounds such as nitro groups to form nitrofurans. This compound also has carcinogenic properties and has been shown to be an animal carcinogen. Methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-?-D-ribofuranoside is also capable of forming conformationally constrained derivatives in which the carbonyl group adopts an ?,?’-diaxial orientation with the adjacent nitrogen atom and can be used for synthesis of phenalenes.