This chapter comprises two major components that sequentially describe existing methods pertinent to the stereoselective formation of 1,3‐
syn
‐diol functionality and the development of a new approach to 1,3‐
syn
‐diol monoethers and diethers through electrophilic activation of homoallylic alkoxymethyl ethers. The ability to quench a key chloromethyl ether intermediate with various nucleophiles highlights the versatility of the ether transfer method. The process provides selective access to either diol‐monoethers or diethers, and it describes an opportunity to convert acyclic stereochemically rich fragments into highly functionalized pyran systems. This fundamentally new method was successfully applied to the synthesis of several complex polyketides including the synthesis of isotactic polyethers, the C7–C17 fragment of swinholide A, the C3–C17 fragment of phorboxazole A, and the neopeltolide macrolactone.