Layered nanocomposites were prepared utilizing the exfoliation and restacking properties of LixMoS2 under mild conditions and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and BET surface measurements. The intercalated hydroxy-Al, Cr and mixed CrAl oligocations made the MoS2 host have interlayer expansions of 5.86-8.86 angstrom. The less steric hindrance and the elevated ratio of rim to edge sites make the as-prepared molybdenum disulfide composites have good catalytic activity in the benzene hydrogenation into cyclohexane. It has been shown that a material with good crystallinity exhibits good durability in the reaction. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.