As a precursor to a variety of valuable bioactive compounds, it is the most important organic isothiocyanate in industry.

[citation needed] The main method involves the thermal rearrangement of methyl thiocyanate:[1] It is also prepared via with the reaction of methylamine with carbon disulfide followed by oxidation of the resulting dithiocarbamate with hydrogen peroxide.

[2] MITC forms naturally upon the enzymatic degradation of glucocapparin, a glucoside found in capers.

A characteristic reaction is with amines to give methyl thioureas: Other nucleophiles add similarly.

Solutions of MITC are used in agriculture as soil fumigants, mainly for protection against fungi and nematodes.