Dimethyl methylphosphonate can be prepared from trimethyl phosphite and a halomethane (e.g. iodomethane) via the Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction.

It will react with thionyl chloride to produce methylphosphonic acid dichloride, which is used in the production of sarin and soman nerve agents.

[4] It can be used as a catalyst and a reagent in organic synthesis, as it can generate a highly reactive ylide.

The yearly production in the United States varies between 100 and 1,000 short tons (91,000 and 907,000 kg).

[citation needed] About 190 liters of dimethyl methylphosphonate, together with other chemicals, were released during the crash of El Al Flight 1862 at Bijlmer in Amsterdam in 1992.