A Molecular Composite Constructed in Aqueous Alkaline Solution from a Double Six‐Ring Silicate and α‐Cyclodextrin

Twenty four hydrogen bonds of the type ROH…︁−OSi bind the double six-ring silicate components and the oligosaccharide α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) in K12Si12O30 · 2α-CD·36H2O (1, tetrahedral representation depicted on the right). Thus, α-cyclodextrin is is incorporated in an unusual way as a multidentate hydrogen-bond donor capable of acting as a building block of high information content in a supramolecular assembly. Compound 1 is of relevance to current discussions on biomineralization.