The deposition of MO over organized mesoporous alumina With a surface area of 344 m(2) g(-1) and pore-size radius 2.3 nm was investigated. The impregnation of the Support from a solution of molybdenum dioxide diacetylacetonate in methanol yielded catalysts that are highly active in the hydrodesulfurization of benzothiophene. The sulfidic Mo catalysts Supported on the organized mesoporous alumina were successfully promoted by Co and Ni from solutions of acetylacetonates of these metals in methanol as shown by increased hydrodesulfurization of benzothiophene and of thiophene in parallel with hydrodenitrogenation of pyridine, and by an increase in the relative selectivity C-S hydrogenolysis/C=C hydrogenation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.