The chemo- and diastereoselective hydrogenation of Formoterol intermediate (2-[N-benzoyl-N-[(R)-2-(4-meth- oxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino]-4 ?-benzoyloxy-3 ? nitro acetophenone) ( 3 )) has been investigated on M(Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru)/BEA zeolite catalysts. Catalytic performances were well correlated with the catalysts characteristics. Both the chemo- and diastereoselectivity were influenced by the metal dispersion and its reduction degree. The obtained results also underlined the essential role of H-BEA as a selectivity -promoting support.