Performing selective conversions of reagents with multiple functional groups is a challenging objective since each group can potentially adsorb and react on a catalytic surface. Our group has explored several techniques for aligning multifunctional molecules above catalytic surfaces to promote selective reaction of a particular functional group. One approach involves the modification of supported metal catalysts with organic ligands such as alkanethiols. Alkanethiols can be deposited on metal surfaces to form organized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) that can greatly alter surface chemistry and potentially be used to significantly enhance selectivity of traditional catalytic systems. We have recently shown that such a strategy can be applied to technical supported catalysts such as Pd/Al2O3. This attachment strategy was found to dramatically enhance the selectivity to the desired product during epoxybutene (EpB) hydrogenation from 15% on uncoated catalysts to as high as 95% on SAM coated catalysts at equivalent reaction conditions. By understanding how these ligands interact both with the surface as well as the reactants, we hope to be able to tune their molecular structure to promote specific interactions for enhancing product selectivity.