4,4-Dimethyl-4H-imidazole-5-carbaldehyde oxime 3oxides 4 were prepared by oxidation and nitrosation of 4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-1-ols. The oximes 4 were converted to 5-cyano derivatives; the latter react with primary or secondary amines to form 5-(di)alkylamino-4H-imidazole 3-oxides 6. Treatment of 6 with AlkMgX and subsequent oxidation yielded stable nitroxides 4-(di)alkylamino-2,5-dihydroimidazole-1-oxyls 7, the pHsensitive spin probes.