Mesoporous MFI zeolites as high performance catalysts for Diels-Alder cycloaddition of bio-derived dimethylfuran and ethylene to renewable p-xylene

•Nanosheet MFI zeolites (NS-MFI) were synthesized with different crystal thickness and Si/Al ratios.•NS-MFI were investigated as model catalysts for Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of 2,5-dimethylfuran and ethylene.•p-Xylene production yield improved by the NS-MFI with small crystal thickness.•The better PX production yield of NS-MFI is attributed to a large number of external Brønsted acid sites and mesopores.•These catalytic factors can be extended to a commercial ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst.