This　work　describes　a　novel　approach　for　linking　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　to　polyoxometalates　(POMs)　for　use　as　effective　heterogeneous　catalysts　in　the　oxidative　desulfurization　of　fuel　oil.　A　POM-based　MOF　was　synthesized　in　situ　with　a　carboxyl-functionalized　ionic　liquid　as　a　bridge　to　combine　the　POM　and　MOF.　The　resulting　[mim(CH2)(3)COO](3)PW@UiO-66　was　characterized　by　XRD,　N-2　adsorption-desorption,　FT-IR,　SEM　and　TGA.　The　results　indicated　that　the　heteropolyanion-based　ionic　liquid　[mim(CH2)(3)COOH](3)PW　was　successfully　dispersed　within　the　cages　of　UiO-66.　The　catalyst　[mim　(CH2)(3)COO](3)PW@UiO-66,　which　had　a　high　content　of　the　active　component　and　large　specific　surface　area,　exhibited　remarkable　catalytic　performance　in　oxidative　desulfurization　(100%　DBT　removal　in　60　min).　Importantly,　a　synergistic　catalytic　mechanism　involving　W　=　O　and　the　Lewis　acid,　in　which　the　Lewis　acid　promoted　the　decomposition　of　H2O2　and　the　generation　of　peroxotungstate　(W(O-2)(n)),　was　proposed　to　explain　the　high　oxidative　desulfurization　catalytic　efficiency　of　[mim　(CH2)(3)COO](3)PW@UiO-66.　(c)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.