A method for the stereoselective synthesis of silyl ketene acetals from alpha-siloxy esters, beta-hydroxy esters and alpha-amino esters is described. Internal quench with excess trimethylsilyl chloride of the lithium enolate at -100 degrees C, which is generated using a hindered base, LTMP, leads to the selective formation of E-silyl ketene acetal. In contrast, the deprotonation at -100 degrees C using LHMDS in THF-HMPA (4:1), followed by treatment with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride affords the Z-silyl ketene acetal selectively. The method can be applied to the stereoselective reaction of the Ireland ester enolate Claisen rearrangement.