[3] PMe3 can be prepared by the treatment of triphenyl phosphite with methylmagnesium chloride:[4] The synthesis is conducted in dibutyl ether, from which the more volatile PMe3 can be distilled.

With strong bases, such as alkyl lithium compounds, a methyl group undergoes deprotonation to give PMe2CH2Li.

[7] This angle is an indication of the amount of steric protection that this ligand provides to the metal that to which it is bound.

Being a relatively compact phosphine, several can bind to a single transition metal, as illustrated by the existence of Pt(PEt3)4.

It converts to a much safer phosphine oxide upon treatment with sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide.