Methaneselenol is the organoselenium compound with the formula . It is the simplest selenol. A colorless, poisonous gas, it is notorious for its foul, putrid odor.
It is prepared by reaction of methyl lithium or a methyl Grignard reagent with selenium followed by protonation of the product. The compound is a metabolite.
According to IR spectroscopy, ý<sub>Se-H</sub> = 2342 cm<sup>âÂÂ1</sup>. For the other homologues, ý<sub>E-H</sub> = 1995 (E = Te), 2606 (E = S), and 3710 cm<sup>âÂÂ1</sup> (E = O) for methanetellurol, methanethiol, and methanol.