Steric interaction of reagents with zeolites was studied in isopropylation, sec-butylation, and tertbutylation of naphthalene (NP) over several large-pore zeolites to elucidate the mechanism of selective catalysis. Selectivities for dialkylnaphthalene (DAN) isomers were influenced by the type of zeolite and bulkiness of alkylating agent. Selective formation of b,b-and 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN) occurred only over H-mordenite (MOR) in the isopropylation of NP using propene; bulky transition states of a,a-and a,b-DIPN are excluded because of steric restriction by the channels, resulting in selective formation of b,b-and 2,6-DIPN. However, low selectivities for b,b-and 2,6-DIPN were observed over the zeolites, SSZ-24 (AFI), SSZ-55 (ATS), and SSZ-42 (IFR) with 12-membered-ring (12-MR) pore entrances of one-dimensional channels, CIT-5 (CFI), UTD-1 (DON), and SSZ-53 (SFH) with 14-membered-ring (14-MR) pore entrances of one-dimensional channels, and Y-zeolite (FAU), zeolite b (BEA), and CIT-1 (CON) with 12-MR pore entrances of three-dimensional channels, because their channels are too large for the exclusion of bulky isomers. Catalysis over these zeolites occurs under kinetic and/or thermodynamic control, resulting in predominant formation of a,a-and a,b-DIPN at lower temperatures and an increase of the stable isomer b,b-DIPN at higher temperatures.The selectivities for b,b-and 2,6-DAN were enhanced with the increase in bulkiness of alkylating agents: 1-butene for sec-butylation and 2-methylpropene for tert-butylation. In particular, b,b-di-tertbutylnaphthalene (DTBN) was selectively formed in the tert-butylation. The selectivities for b,b-and 2,6-DAN were enhanced even in large channels: the transition states of the least bulky isomers only fit the channels because other bulky isomers are excluded by steric restriction of the channels. However, tert-butylation over FAU, BEA, and CON had selectivities for 2,6-DTBN of around 50-60%, although selectivities for b,b-DTBN were almost 100% selectivity; these zeolites can hardly recognize the differences between 2,6-and 2,7-DTBN. The results indicate that the fitting of the least bulky isomers to zeolite channels, leading to the exclusion of other bulky isomers, is essential for highly shape-selective catalysis.