A successful method for rendering homogeneous transition metal catalysts heterogeneous has emerged from glass bead technology. The process generally combines high activity and selectivity with facile recyclability. Glass bead technology, and related approaches, have been applied to a wide range of reactions with results paralleling, and sometimes exceeding, those obtained from their homogeneous counterparts. Outlined is the current scope of this research, with an emphasis on work on supported palladium reagents. A novel approach for the retrieval of precious metals from reaction mixtures stemming from these studies is also outlined.