A method for the stereoselective synthesis of silyl ketene acetals from a-hydroxy esters is described. Internal quench with excess TMSCI 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 and aldol synthesis.