The thermal destruction of dinuclear double-helical 3,3'-bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) complexes [Zn2L2] was investigated. The compounds demonstrated good thermal stability (up to 440 degrees C) in argon and (up to 222 degrees C) in air. Thermal stability of [Zn2L2] is greatly determined by changing of the number and the nature of substituents in the terminal pyrrole cycles and meso-spacer of 3,3'-bis(dipyrrolylmethene) ligands. The influence of molecule structure and medium nature on the thermal properties and perspective directions of complexes practical use are discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.