The transition metal complexes [eta(6)- (2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane)]tricarbonylchromium (3) and [eta(6)-(2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane)] [eta(5)-(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)]ruthenium(II)triflate (4) were synthesized from 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane (2, WIN 35,065) to further elucidate the influence of substituents on the 3beta-aryl on the affinity of the ligand for cocaine-binding sites at the dopamine transporter. The compounds were tested for their ability to displace bound [(3)H]WIN 35,428 (5) from rat caudate putamen tissue and for their ability to inhibit [(3)H]dopamine uptake. The binding affinity for 3 was 2-fold greater than those observed for cocaine (1) and 2, while the binding affinity for 4 was found to be 100-fold less than those of 1 and 2. In addition, 3 was equipotent with 1 and 2 in [(3)H]dopamine uptake inhibition studies, while 4 was 10-fold less potent. The potencies of the complexes 3 and 4 correlated well with the structure-activity relationships of other 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-aryltropane derivatives. These data further support a pharmacophore model in which the region occupied by the aryl ring is a lipophilic pocket with electropositive character.