A series of beta (beta) zeolites has been synthesized in a fluoride medium and characterized by different techniques. XRD showed that the majority of F-Si-beta, F-Pt-beta, F-Pd-beta, and F-W-beta materials consisted of polymorph A. W and Al were incorporated into the framework of beta, while Pt and Pd existed on the surface of beta in the form of PtOx or PdOx oxides. The framework structures of F-Si-beta, F-Pt-beta, and F-Pd-beta were almost identical, as proven by Si-29 MAS NMR and FTIR spectra. The relative coverage of surface -OH groups decreased in the sequence H-beta > H-ZSM-5 > F-Al-beta > F-W-beta > F-Pd-beta > F-Pt-beta > F-Si-beta (1) > F-Si-beta(2). SEM revealed an especially uniform crystalline morphology of F-Si-beta(2) nucleated spontaneously and a mixed morphology of F-Si-beta(1), F-W-beta, F-Pt-beta, and F-Pd-beta induced by seeding H-beta. The reduced F-Pt-beta and F-Pd-beta were catalytically active for the asymmetric hydrogenation of tiglic acid with an appreciable enantiomeric excess value of about 9-11% without adding chiral modifiers. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.