Zincosilicate CIT-6 (California Institute of Technology number 6) that has the *BEA-type structure is synthesized at hydrothermal conditions in the presence of tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH), Li+, and Zn2+. As opposed to zeolite beta, TEA cations can be easily extracted with acetic acid containing solution from CIT-6 because the interaction between the TEA cations and CIT-6 framework is weak. The extraction at 135 degrees C simultaneously removes TEA cations and zinc and forms a highly hydrophobic Si-CIT-6 with very little defects. Al-containing CIT-6 can be prepared by either extracting TEA cations from as-made Al-containing CIT-6 or inserting aluminum into CIT-6 extracted at 60 degrees C. Si-29 NMR and water adsorption data indicate that the aluminum-containing materials are different from:zeolite beta prepared via direct synthesis, CIT-6 is thus shown to be a useful precursor to prepare a wide range of new molecular sieve materials that are of the *BEA type.