Magnetically active and SO3H-functionalized ordered mesoporous resin and carbon (MOMR-SO3H, MOMC-SO3H) were successfully prepared by high-temperature hydrothermal synthesis from resol, copolymer surfactant, and iron cations at 180 degrees C, followed by sulfonation from sulfuric acid fuming. X-ray diffraction patterns show that MOMR-SO3H and MOMC-SO3H have ordered hexagonal mesoporous symmetry. N-2 isotherms indicate that these samples have uniform and opened mesopores, high surface areas (335-591 m(2)/g), and large pore volumes (0.34-0.35 cm(3)/g). Transmission electron microscopy shows that iron nanoparticles, which are superparamagnetic in nature, are highly dispersed in MOMC-SO3H sample. Catalytic tests show that MOMC-SO3H is highly active and excellently recyclable in esterification of acetic acid with butanol, esterification of acetic acid with cyclohexanol, and condensation of benzaldehyde with ethylene glycol. More interestingly, MOMC-SO3H catalyst is magnetically active, showing potential applications for separating catalysts by a magnetic field in the future. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.