A series of dioxolane analogues based on dexoxadrol ((4S,6S)-2,2-diphenyl-4-(2-piperidyl)-1,3-dioxolane) and etoxadrol ((2S,4S,6S)-2-ethyl-2-phenyl-4-(2-piperidyl)-1,3-dioxolane) were prepared and tested for their ability to displace [3H]TCP (1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine) from PCP (1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine) binding sites in rat brain tissue homogenates. Qualitative structure-activity relationships within this series were explored through modifications of the three major structural units of dexoxadrol, the piperidine, 1,3-dioxolane, and aromatic rings of the molecule. N-Alkyl derivatives of dexoxadrol were found to be inactive, as were those analogues where the dioxolane ring was modified. Phenyl-substituted etoxadrol analogues were compared to similarly substituted PCP analogues and distinct differences were found in their structure-activity relationships suggesting that the aromatic rings in these two drug classes interact differently with the PCP binding sites. The replacement of the phenyl ring in etoxadrol by either a 2- or 3-thienyl ring led to compounds with affinity comparable to etoxadrol, and the replacement of the ethyl moiety on etoxadrol's dioxolane ring with propyl (7) or isopropyl (8) led to compounds which were more potent than etoxadrol or PCP. The most potent compound was (2S,4S,6S)-2-ethyl- 2-(1-chlorophenyl)-4-(2-piperidyl)-1,3-dioxolane (11), where a chlorine moiety was placed in the ortho position in the aromatic ring of etoxadrol. Its potency was comparable with TCP in vitro.