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)3COO]3PW@UiO-66　was　characterized　by　XRD,　N2　adsorption–desorption,　FT-IR,　SEM　and　TGA.　The　results　indicated　that　the　heteropolyanion-based　ionic　liquid　[mim(CH2)3COOH]3PW　was　successfully　dispersed　within　the　cages　of　UiO-66.　The　catalyst　[mim(CH2)3COO]3PW@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(O2)n),　was　proposed　to　explain　the　high　oxidative　desulfurization　catalytic　efficiency　of　[mim(CH2)3COO]3PW@UiO-66.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd