Experiments were conducted to examine the molecular basis for the high affinity and potency of a new class of 5-HT 2A receptor agonists, N-benzyl phenethylamines. Competition binding assays at several serotonin receptors confirmed that an N-arylmethyl substitution was necessary for affinity increases up to 300-fold over simple N-alkyl homologs, as well as enhanced selectivity for 5-HT 2A versus 5-HT 2C and 5-HT 1A receptors. PI hydrolysis functional assays confirmed that these Nbenzyl phenethylamines are potent and highly efficacious agonists at the rat 5-HT 2A receptor. Virtual docking of these compounds into a human 5-HT 2A receptor homology model indicated that the N-benzyl moiety might be interacting with Phe339 (6.51) , whereas the phenethylamine portion was likely to be interacting with Phe340 (6.52) . Experiments in h5-HT 2A receptors with Phe339 (6.51) L and Phe340 (6.52) L mutations seem to support this hypothesis. Dramatic detrimental effects on affinity, potency, and intrinsic activity were observed with the Phe339 (6.51) L mutation for all N-benzyl analogs, whereas most N-unsubstituted phenethylamines and traditional agonists were only weakly affected, if at all. Consistent with other published studies, the Phe340 (6.52) L mutation detrimentally affected affinity, potency, and intrinsic activity of nearly all compounds tested, although a strong change in intrinsic activity was not seen with most N-aryl analogs. These data further validate the topology of our h5-HT 2A receptor homology model. It is noteworthy that this study is the first to identify a hitherto unrecognized role for residue 6.51 in agonist activation of a serotonin G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), whereas most previous reports have suggested a varied and sometimes contradictory role in homologous GPCRs.Agonist activity at the serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor is essential for the psychopharmacology of serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD, DOI, psilocin, and 5-MeO-DMT, compounds with unique and dramatic effects on certain aspects of consciousness (Nichols 2004). Moreover, we have recently identified a functionally selective 5-HT 2A receptor agonist that selectively activates phosphoinositide turnover over production of eicosanoids (McLean et al., 2006a). A key aspect to understanding the effects on consciousness of psychedelics is the study of the receptor-ligand interaction at the molecular level and how it modulates second messenger generation subsequent to receptor activation.We have been particularly interested in experimental val-