Methanetellurol is the organotellurium compound with the formula CH₃TeH. It is the simplest organotellurium compound that has been purified in bulk. It is classified as a

tellurol Tellurols are analogues of alcohols and phenols where tellurium replaces oxygen. Tellurols, selenols, and thiols have similar properties, but tellurols are the least stable. Although they are fundamental representatives of organotellurium comp ...

. A colorless gas, it decomposes to Te and methane near room temperature. It is prepared by reduction of dimethyl ditelluride using Na/NH₃ followed by protonation of the NaTeCH₃ with sulfuric acid. Few publications describe this compound as a consequence of its instability and paucity of applications. According to

IR spectroscopy Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy or vibrational spectroscopy) is the measurement of the interaction of infrared radiation with matter by absorption, emission, or reflection. It is used to study and identify chemical substances or functio ...

, ν_Te-H = 1995 cm⁻¹. For the lighter homologues, ν_E-H = 2342 (E = Se), 2606 (E = S), and 3710 cm⁻¹ (E = O) for

methaneselenol Methaneselenol is the organoselenium compound with the formula CH3SeH. It is the simplest selenol. A colorless gas, it is notorious for its foul odor. It is prepared by reaction of methyl lithium or a methyl Grignard reagent with selenium follow ...

methanethiol Methanethiol (also known as methyl mercaptan) is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula . It is a colorless gas with a distinctive putrid smell. It is a natural substance found in the blood, brain and feces of animals (including huma ...

, and methanol.{{cite journal , doi=10.1080/00945717708069709, title=The Synthesis and the Raman and Infrared Spectra of Methanetellurol, year=1977, last1=Hamada, first1=K., last2=Morishita, first2=H., journal=Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry, volume=7, issue=4, pages=355–366

References

Organotellurium compounds Hydrides Organic compounds with 1 carbon atom