Dispersed　metal　sulfides　are　promising　catalysts　for　the　hydroconversion　of　biolipids　to　produce　second-generation　biodiesel.　In　this　work,　oil-soluble　Mo-based　ionic　liquids　(ILs)　were　innovatively　utilized　as　the　precursors　for　in　situ　generation　of　MoS2　catalysts　for　the　hydroconversion　of　biolipids.　Taking　methyl　palmitate　as　the　model　compound,　the　excellent　activity　of　in　situ　generated　MoS2　from　ionic　liquid　Mo-based　precursors　was　obtained.　The　turnover　frequencies　(TOFs)　reached　up　to　1.6　x　102　h-1　for　methyl　palmitate　conversion　and　83　h-1　for　hexadecane　(C16)　yield　at　320　degrees　C　and　0.5　h　(42%　conversion)　under　solvent-dilute　conditions.　The　structures　of　in　situ　generated　MoS2　catalysts　were　characterized　to　pro-vide　explanations　for　the　catalytic　results.　Based　on　the　product　distributions,　the　pathway　of　methyl　palmitate　hydroconversion　was　proposed,　and　the　kinetics　of　methyl　palmitate　hydroconversion　was　analyzed　in　further　detail.　Applying　the　Mo-based　ILs　in　the　hydroconversion　of　methyl　palmitate　and　palm　oil　under　solvent-free　condition　also　granted　high　conversions　of　feeds　and　selectivities　of　HDO　products.(c)　2023　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.