An ethynylterpyridine was "clicked" to an azide-terminated self-assembled monolayer on gold and characterized by synchrotron radiation based surface analysis as NEXAFS and XPS. The detection of azide and terpyridine signatures confirmed a partial click reaction at room temperature. The absence of the azides after reaction at 50 degrees C indicates an almost complete conversion. For the latter case successful Pd(II) coordination has been proven. The Au-S interface of the SAMs has been characterized by S 1s and S 2p XPS. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.