Free radicals generated from UV irradiation of simple aliphatic amides in anaerobic and nitric oxide (NO)-saturated liquid mixtures or solutions gave EPR spectra of nitroxides. The application of isotopic effects to EPR spectra and the generation of radicals by transient radical attack on substrate molecules or by photolysing amine or acetoin were used to help identify photochemically produced radicals from the amides. The aliphatic amides used were formamide, acetamide and their N-methyl-or deuteriumsubstituted derivatives. Transient radicals used to attack the amides via hydrogen-atom abstraction were generated from the initiator AIBN or AAPH. The observation of various nitroxides indicates the reactivity of NO for trapping acyl, carbamoyl and other carbon-centered radicals. Possibly mechanistic pathways diagnosed with this trap are proposed.