N-(4-Methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-phenalen-2-yl)amide derivatives, conformationally restricted ligands for melatonin receptors, were synthesized by an alternative synthetic method from the corresponding 1,8-naphthalic anhydride which was transformed into the phenalenecarboxylic acid 7. A Curtius reaction on 7 gave the amino compound which was acylated to give compounds 4a-c. The (+)- and (-)-4a-c enantiomers were separated by semipreparative chiral HPLC. Compounds were evaluated for their affinity for chicken brain melatonin receptors in binding assays using 2-[125I]iodomelatonin and for their potency to lighten the skin of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The butyramido derivative 4c was the most potent ligand (Ki = 1.7 nM). No enantioselectivity was observed with the enantiomers which were equipotent to the racemic mixture. In contrast to the reference compounds, melatonin, agomelatine (S 20098), and N-[2-(2, 7-dimethoxynaphth-1-yl)ethyl]acetamide, which were very potent at lightening the skin of X. laevis tadpoles, compounds 4a-c were inactive or weakly active (EC50 > 1 microM). In this bioassay, compound 4a was characterized as a putative antagonist of melatonin receptors.