Arachidonylethanolamide (N-2-hydroxyethyl-arachidonamide) or 'anandamide' is a naturally occurring derivative of arachidonic acid that has been shown to bind and activate cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Since other potent ligands for the cannabinoid receptor have an aromatic hydroxyl group, we investigated the hypothesis that replacement of the ethanolamine hydroxyl with an aromatic hydroxyl will increase the binding affinity for the cannabinoid receptor. Two novel congeners of anandamide containing aromatic hydroxyl groups were synthesized: N-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl arachidonamide (HEA) and N-2-hydroxyphenyl arachidonamide (HPA). The affinity of these congeners for the brain cannabinoid receptor was determined by competition with [3H]CP55940. HEA competed for [3H]CP55940 binding with a Ki of 600 nM; HPA had a Ki of 2200 nM. These results indicate that increased size in the amide portion of anandamide decreases affinity for the receptor. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), an inhibitor of anandamide catabolism by brain membranes, had no effect on the binding of either HEA or HPA. We conclude that these congeners are not substrates for the amidase that catabolizes anandamide.