The potential of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as ligands for transition metals has only recently been recognized and exploited. Our group has developed a family of chiral NHCs and examined their ability to catalyze various carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in conjunction with a transition metal. The results of these studies will be presented in the context of the total synthesis of polyketide natural product baconipyrone C. The convergent synthesis uses asymmetric olefin metathesis and asymmetric allylic alkylation (see graphic) as key steps; both of which utilize a metal catalyst ligated by a chiral NHC.