The first catalytic applications of sulfonic acid-functionalized hydrophobic mesoporous benzene-silica with lamellar pore wall structure are reported. The mesoporous benzene-silica attached with propylsulfonic groups to the crystal-like periodic pore walls exhibited the catalytic activity in the esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The catalytic results show the higher conversion compared to the commercial Nation-H. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.