Methanesulfonamide is used in the synthesis of important organic reagents such asN-(2-methylthio-1-p-toluenesufonyl)methanesulfonamide andtert-butyl ((2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl)sulfonyl)carbamate.
It can be used as a source of nitrogen in the conversion of carboxylic acids to corresponding nitriles.
It is widely used as a reagent in the synthesis of medicinally important compounds such as derivatives of indole-N-acetamide, methanesulfonamide pyrimidine-substituted 3, 5-dihydroxy-6-heptenoates and repertaxin.