The production of singlet oxygen by H2O2disproportionation and via the oxidation of H2O2by NaOCl in a neutral medium was monitored by spin trapping with 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-4-piperidone (TMPone). The singlet oxygen formed in both reactions oxidized 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-4-piperidone to give nitroxide radicals. However the production of nitroxide radicals was relatively small considering the concentrations of H2O2and NaOCl used in the reaction systems. Addition of electron donating agents: ascorbate, Fe2+and desferrioxamine leads to an increase in the production of nitroxide radicals. We assumed that a very slow step of the reaction sequence, the homolytic breaking of the O-O bond of N-hydroperoxide (formed as an intermediate product during the reaction of1O2with TMPone) could be responsible for the relatively small production of nitroxide radicals. Electron donating agents added to the reaction system probably raise the rate of the hydroperoxide decomposition by allowing a more rapid heterolytic cleavage of the O-O bond leading to a greater production of nitroxide radicals. The largest effect was observed in the presence of desferrioxamine. Its participation in this process is proved by the concomitant appearance of desferrioxamine nitroxide radicals. The results obtained demonstrate that the method proposed by several authors and tested in this study to detect singlet oxygen is not convenient for precise quantitative studies. The reactivity of TMPone towards O2−7HO2' and 'OH has been also investigated. It has been found that both O2−7HO2' and 'OH radicals formed in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4, 37°C), respectively by a xanthine-oxidase/hypoxanthine system and via H2O2UV irradiation, do not oxidize 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-4-piperidone to nitroxide radicals.