Whereas enols are seen only as a small proportion of the keto-enol tautomerism, silyl enol ethers are stable and very useful sources of regiochemically pure enolate ions. They are easily prepared - following the route to the enolate ion then treating with a silyl reagent like Tri-Methyl-Silyl-Chloride ('TMSCl'). For example;

If the ketone is asymmetrical then there are two possibilities for deprotonation, and the proton that is taken will depend on the conditions used.

For kinetic deprotonation, low temperature plus a strong base ensure that equilibria are kept to a minimum and the least hindered proton is taken, giving the least substituted double bond in the enolate/silyl enol ether.

For thermodynamic deprotonation, high temperature plus a weaker base allow the system to equilibrate until the most stable double bond configuration is reached, i.e. the most substituted one. For example;

Reactions of Silyl Enol Ethers

These will react exactly as enolates as soon as the ⁺SiMe₃ fragment is removed - there are several ways of doing this, including MeLi (releasing SiMe₄) and [^tBu₄N]⁺ F^- (forms Si-F bond).
Also the double bond itself will react with strong electrophiles because the cation produced will be stabilised if β to the silicon:

This will also work with alkyl halides (especially if a Lewis Acid is present) - NB this is a preferable method for alkylating ketones because simple enolates are basic enough to create competing elimination reactions with alkyl halides.