Embodiments of the present disclosure describe pre-catalysts comprising including one or more of indium oxide, indium hydroxide, indium oxyhydroxide, an active oxide, and a refractory oxide. Embodiments of the present disclosure also describe method of making pre-catalysts based on one or more of impregnation, precipitation or co-precipitation, ball milling, and metal-organic framework (MOF)-mediated synthesis. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe methods of activating pre-catalysts and synthesizing one or more of methanol and olefins using catalysts obtained from the pre-catalysts.