Let R be a ring with center Z, Jacobson radical J , and set N of all nilpotent elements. Call R semiperiodic if for each x ∈ R\ (J ∪Z), there exist positive integers m, n of opposite parity such that x − x ∈ N . We investigate commutativity of semiperiodic rings, and we provide noncommutative examples. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000). 16U80.