Beta zeolites with two different Si/Al ratios of 17 and 1500 were used for synthesis Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA and Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA zeolites by conventional wet impregnation and two-step postsynthesis procedure, respectively. The calcination of Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA and Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA at 773 K for 3 h in air led to the formation of C-Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA and C-Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA with appearance, for the latter mainly pseudo-tetrahedral Ni(II) and Cu(II) incorporated in BEA framework and for the former, both framework pseudo-tetrahedral and extra-framework octahedral Ni(II) and Cu(II) species as evidenced by XRD, DR UV-vis and XPS. Bimetallic red-C-Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA and red-C-Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA catalysts obtained by treatment of C-Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA and C-Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA at 873 K for 3 h in flowing 10% H-2/Ar stream were investigated in gas phase conversion of 1,2-dichloroethane at atmospheric pressure towards desired products (vinyl chloride and ethylene), at relatively low reaction temperature (523 K). Red-C-Cu(x)Ni(y)HA1BEA catalysts were active in dehydrochlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane with similar to 100% of selectivity to vinyl chloride. In contrast, for red-C-Cu(x)Ni(y)SiBEA, similar to 100% of selectivity to ethylene were obtained by hydrodechlorination of 1,2-dichloroethane. Behaviour of both kinds of catalysts in catalytic conversion of 1,2-dichloroethane depends mainly on the nature of bimetallic Ni-Cu nanoparticles, their dispersion and the acidity of zeolite supports. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.