Thesis advisor: Marc L. Snapper / A survey of silicon-based reactions and potential for Lewis base catalysis was presented. An efficient site- and enantioselective catalytic silylation of triols is disclosed. The protocol is applied to total syntheses of cleroindicins D, F and C. Catalytic kinetic resolution of β-hydroxyketones is disclosed. A readily available amino acid-based catalyst promotes the kinetic resolution with high efficiency. A presentation of catalytic enantioselective tosylation of syn-1,2-diols is disclosed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.