(−)-Neplanocin A potently and irreversibly inactivates SAH hydrolase (Ki = 8.39 nM). It has antitumor activity against mouse leukemia L1210 cells and broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Neplanocin A is more potent against vesicular stomatitis than the reversible SAH hydrolase inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin (ID50 = 0.07 and 0.3 μg/ml, respectively).

(-)-Noe’s reagent is a chiral resolution reagent to separate racemic compounds into different mirror isomers and is an important tool for the production of optically active drugs.