Solvents effects on the self-assemblies of 5,5′-bis(3-hydroxyphenyldiazo)-dipyrromethane

► 5,5′-bis(3-hydroxyphenyldiazo)-dipyrromethane was synthesized. ► The 5,5′-bisdiazo-dipyrromethane still assembled into interlocked type dimers through quadruple N-H…N hydrogen bonds. ► [n]cantane, rotaxane and broken [n]cantane like structures were obtained from the self-assemblies of the dimers. ► The solvents effects on the self-assemblies were also witnessed by SEM studies.