The preparation of 1,4,8,11-tetrabromo-5bα,6,12bα,13-tetrahydropentaleno[1,2-b:4,5-b′]diquinoline 6 is described. This is a further member of the tetrahalo aryl host family, and forms crystalline lattice inclusion compounds with many guests. The X-ray structures of the allyl cyanide, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, chlorobenzene, toluene, benzene–water, methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride inclusion compounds are described, and compared with that of the solvent-free apohost. Although several different structural types are produced, the recently reported pi–halogen dimer (PHD) interaction plays an important role in all of these, except for that of pure 6 (where the packing energy is the least favourable of the series).