It is a white solid that is highly toxic and malodorous.

Trimethyltin chloride can be prepared by the redistribution reaction of tetramethyltin with tin tetrachloride.

[3] This redistribution reaction is typically performed with no solvent because high temperatures are required and purification is simplified.

A second route to (CH3)3SnCl involves treating the corresponding hydroxide or oxide (in the following reaction, trimethyltin hydroxide (CH3)3SnOH) with a halogenating agent such as hydrogen chloride or thionyl chloride (SOCl2): Trimethyltin chloride is used as a source of the trimethylstannyl group ((CH3)3Sn−).

[4] For example, it is a precursor to vinyltrimethylstannane ((CH3)3SnCH=CH2)[5] and indenyltrimethylstanane (CH3)3SnC9H7 (see Transition metal indenyl complex):[6] An example of an organolithium reagent reacting with (CH3)3SnCl to form a tin-carbon bond is: Organotin compounds derived from Me3SnCl are useful in organic synthesis, especially in radical chain reactions.