This paper reports on a comparative study of unsupported MoS2 and Me/MoS2 (Me = Co, Ni) catalysts prepared by hydrothermal synthesis in our laboratory. Hydrothermal synthesis using water and organic solvent under hydrogen was found to produce highly active Mo based sulfide nano-size particles. MoS2 had high surface area (320 m(2)/g) and large pore volume (0.72 m(3)/g). Addition of Co or Ni promoter decreased surface area and pore volume. Compared to MoS2, downward shifts of the reduction temperatures were observed in TPR for Co(Ni)-Mo-S sulfides which suggested a decrease in metal sulfur bond strength. HRTEM and XRD results showed that MoS2 formed large crystallized particles but the particle growth was inhibited when promoters were incorporated. For HDS, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) was slightly more reactive than dibenzothiophene (DBT) over the MoS2. The liquid-phase adsorption showed that 4,6-DMDBT had higher capacity and stronger interaction with the adsorption site On MoS2 than DBT. In distinct contrast to MoS2, the promoted NiMo or CoMo sulfide showed higher liquid-phase adsorption selectivity for DBT than for 4,6-DMDBT. The promoter increased activity Of MoS2 and changed the contribution of the direct-desulfurization and of hydrogenation pathways. The adsorption and HDS results indicated that promoter affects both the number and the activity of active sites of the Mo sulfides. HDS activity of the unsupported Mo based sulfides was much higher than that of the sulfided commercial Co(Ni)Mo/Al2O3 catalysts. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.