Methanetellurol is the organotellurium compound with the formula . It is the simplest organotellurium compound that has been purified in bulk. It is classified as a tellurol. A colorless gas, it decomposes to Te and methane near room temperature. It is prepared by reduction of dimethyl ditelluride using Na/ followed by protonation of the (sodium methanetellurolate) with sulfuric acid. Few publications describe this compound as a consequence of its instability and paucity of applications.
According to IR spectroscopy, ý<sub>Te-H</sub> = 1995 cm<sup>âÂÂ1</sup>. For the lighter homologues, ý<sub>E-H</sub> = 2342 (E = Se), 2606 (E = S), and 3710 cm<sup>âÂÂ1</sup> (E = O) for methaneselenol, methanethiol, and methanol.