Palladium-catalyzed cyclizations of aryl halides, vinyl halides and vinyl triflates with tethered alkenes have proven to be powerful reactions for forging congested quaternary carbon centers in complex organic molecules. In some cases, the use of enantiopure ligands allows the new quaternary center to be formed with excellent enantioselectivity. The scope, stereochemical nuances and power of this organometallic chemistry is illustrated by briefly considering our recent total syntheses of (+/-)-pretazettine, (+/-)-tazettine, (-)- and (+)-morphine, (-)- and (+)-physostigmine, (+/-)-scopadulcic acid A and (+/-)-scopadulcic acid B.