Used primarily as a crosslinking agent in polymer chemistry, this compound enables the formation of disulfide bridges in specialty polymers, enhancing mechanical strength and thermal stability. Its acyl chloride groups react readily with nucleophiles such as amines and alcohols, making it valuable in synthesizing functionalized macromolecules for drug delivery systems and responsive materials. Due to the presence of the disulfide bond, it is particularly useful in creating redox-sensitive linkages that can break under reducing conditions, which is advantageous in biomedical applications like controlled release formulations. It also finds use in surface modification of nanomaterials and in the preparation of stimuli-responsive hydrogels.