MoS2 was dispersed into the porosity of MCM-41 and SBA-15 ordered mesoporous materials by means of thermal spreading Of MoO3 oxide, followed by sulfidation. Catalysts with various Mo loadings were prepared (namely 9, 14 and 20 wt%), thoroughly characterized using XRD N-2-sorption, and TEM, and their activity in hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene was investigated. Depending on the pore size of the support, a nanocasting of the sulfide particles was observed, and its effect on HDS, activity was discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.