Co(Ni)MoS/Al 2 O 3 catalysts have been prepared from ammonium 10 dodecamolybdodicobaltate (NH 4 ) 6 [Co 2 Mo 10 O 38 H 4 ] (further, Co 2 Mo 10 HPC) and cobalt(nickel) salts of 10 dodecamolybdodicobaltic acid H 6 [Co 2 Mo 10 O 38 H 4 ] (hereinafter, Co 2 Mo 10 HPA). It has been found that a high activity of the Co(Ni) 3 -Co 2 Mo 10 HPA/Al 2 O 3 catalysts in the hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation reactions is due to the forma tion of a nanostructured type II CoMoS phase via the contact of the metals (Mo and Co(Ni)) at the molecular level. The use of Ni as a copromoter in the Ni 3 -Co 2 Mo 10 HPA/Al 2 O 3 catalyst leads to a simultaneous increase, compared with Co 3 -Co 2 Mo 10 HPA/Al 2 O 3 , in the linear size of nanoparticles and the number of MoS 2 layers in the packing of active phase. The nature of the promoter X has a substantial effect on the prop erties of X 3 Co 2 Mo 10 HPC/Al 2 O 3 catalysts. It has been found that the catalysts with X = Co exhibit the highest activity in the hydrodesulfurization reactions and those with X = Ni, in hydrogenation reactions.