A series of 2-substituted octahydrobenzo[f]quinolines has been synthesized and assayed for dopamine agonist activity. Only the compounds corresponding to the beta-rotameric conformation of dopamine showed biphasic activity in competition binding studies with the radioligand [3H]spiroperidol. These findings suggest that the congeners possessing the beta-rotamer conformation show receptor-binding characteristics that resemble those of the ergolines more closely than do those of the corresponding alpha-rotamer congeners.