AbstractA comparative study of nickel-tungsten sulfide catalysts for hydrodearomatization prepared in situ in a reaction medium by different methods (from a [BMPip]2Ni(WS4)2 precursor in a hydrocarbon or in an ionic liquid, from a suspension of nickel and tungsten salts formed from inverted emulsions in hydrocarbons, or from oil-soluble precursors) has been carried out. It has been found that the use of the oil-soluble precursors makes it possible to reach a high degree of sulfidizing of the active phase and a high degree of its promotion by nickel at a small size of the active phase particles. The resulting catalyst can be applied to the hydrogenation of both the naphthalene and substituted methylnaphthalenes (2-methylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, and 2,3,6-trimethylnaphthalene) with the high selectivity for decalins and to the hydrodearomatization of light cycle oil with the complete removal of di- and polycyclic aromatic compounds.