This compound generates a highly ordered, photosensitive surface. Upon irradiation with UV light, nitrenes are generated, a very reactive intermediate. Depending on the medium of the photolysis, nitrenes can abstract protons to form amines or insert into another molecule or protein. As with other disulfide derivatives, the same monolayer is obtained with the disulfide as with its alkanethiol analog. It should be noted however that disulfides assemble at a slower rate than thiols in competitive adsorption experiments.Examples of covalent attachment to acetylene bearing compounds can be found in J.P. Collman et al. Langmuir, 2006, 22(6), 24570-2464. This method was used to attach complex molecules such as DNA and porphyrins to a surface.