Porous ${eta}-Al_2O_3$ was synthesized by modified sol-gel method using ionic liquid as a templating material. The addition of ionic liquid assisted to increase the surface area of alumina. However, the acidity of aluminas prepared with ionic liquids was hardly affected regardless the change of its structural properties. Among the ionic liquids used in this study, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][$PF_6$]) was the most effective ionic liquid to produce porous ${eta}-Al_2O_3$ particles. The catalytic performance of these aluminas has been investigated in dehydration of methanol to produce dimethyl ether. The alumina prepared with [Bmim][$PF_6$] outperformed the other aluminas except ${eta}-Al_2O_3$ without modification in this reaction.