Each of the relative stereochemical relationships present in the Prelog–Djerassi lactone 34 was set up by a stereocontrolled reaction based on the presence of a silyl group. These were the enolate protonation 3→ 4 of a β-silyl ester, the enolate alkylation 11→ 12 of a β- silyl ester, silyl-to-hydroxy conversion with r