A series of mesoporous silicoaluminophosphates (MESO-SAPOs) with different silica contents were synthesized using the microporous precursors of SAPO-37 (MESO-SAPO-37). Various analytical and spectroscopic techniques revealed the presence of mesoporous and microporous properties of the materials. The resulting materials were applied to vapor-phase hydroisomerization of 1-octene to afford the corresponding branched alkenes in good yields under ambient conditions. The catalytic activity of MESO-SAPO-37 was compared to those of other mesoporous analogs obtained from SAPO-34 and SAPO-5 precursors. Among all the synthesized materials, MESO-SAPO-37 showed the best catalytic activity owing to the presence of faujasite units. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.