Various methods for the production of singlet oxygen exist. Irradiation of oxygen gas in the presence of an organic dye as a sensitizer, such as rose bengal, methylene blue, or porphyrins—a photochemical method—results in its production. Large steady state concentrations of singlet oxygen are reported from the reaction of triplet excited state pyruvic acid with dissolved oxygen in water. Singlet oxygen can also be produced in non-photochemical, preparative chemical procedures. One chemical method involves the decomposition of triethylsilyl hydrotrioxide generated in situ from triethylsilane and ozone.
:(CH)SiH + O → (CH)SiOOOH → (CH)SiOH + O(Δ)
Another method uses the aqueous reaction of hydrogen peroxide with sodium hypochlorite:
: HO + NaOCl → O(Δ) + NaCl + HO
A third method liberates singlet oxygen via phosphite ozonides, which are, in turn, generated in situ such as triphenyl phosphite ozonide. Phosphite ozonides will decompose to give singlet oxygen:
:(RO)P  +  O  →    (RO)PO
:(RO)PO  →   (RO)PO  +  O(Δ)
An advantage of this method is that it is amenable to non-aqueous conditions.