The Use of Salt Hydrates as Water buffers To Control Enzyme Activity in Organic Solvents

The conversion of o-diphenols to o-quinones was carried out in chloroform using a dry powder prepared from mushrooms as the catalyst. Several salt hydrates proved effective in supplying the small amount of water necessary for catalysis. The efficacy of the hydrates was related to their water activities and their use provided a convenient method for controlling water activity in nearly non-aqueous conditions.