The bromo and iodo derivatives of a meta-bis(1,3-oxazolin-2-yl)-substituted benzene, C16H19BrN2O2·0.15H2O (1) and C16H19IN2O2 (2), have been prepared and studied in terms of their molecular and crystal structures. While the former crystallizes as a sub-hydrate, with 0.15 formula units of water and shows an almost all-planar arrangement of the three ring systems, the latter crystallizes solvate-free with the flanking heterocycles twisted considerably with respect to the central arene. Non-covalent contacts include parallel-displaced π–π interactions and (non-classical) hydrogen bonding for both (1) and (2), as well as relatively short I⋯N contacts for (2).