In this paper we report on the first mesoporous catalyst based on SBA-15 incorporating simultaneously basic and acid functions able to promote the Friedlander reaction between 2-aminoaryl ketones and ethyl acetoacetate leading to quinolines 1 with high yields. From 2-aminobenzophenone (3a) it is possible to prepare quinoline la with the highest selectivity (86%) as compared with other mesoporous acidic catalysts. In contrast, the reaction catalyzed by amine-grafted SBA-15 yielded selectively (98%) the corresponding quinolone 2a in accordance with our previous results. Experimental results have been justified by theoretical calculations as function of the stability of reaction intermediate species, which could be involved in the process. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.