The original Bargellini reaction (1906) was a mixture of the reagents phenol, chloroform, and acetone in the presence of a sodium hydroxide solution. Later, organic chemists have used the reaction as a general method of organic synthesis for highly hindered or bulky morpholinones or piperazinones from ketones (particularly acetone) and either β-amino alcohols or diamines. Bargellini reactions have found a widespread use in synthesis.

Several examples of Bargellini reactions promoted by Cinchona Alkaloids can be found in our Buchler Chiral Catalyst Search.