Hydrolyzou

Hydrolyzou is a term used in speculative chemistry to describe a hypothetical class of reactions in which hydrolysis is coupled with a concurrent molecular rearrangement, enabling selective bond cleavage in complex substrates under aqueous conditions. The name combines hydrolysis with a stylized suffix -zou, used in fictional or theoretical literature to denote a coupled pathway.

In theoretical treatments, hydrolyzou proposes that a substrate containing hydrolyzable bonds is activated by a catalyst or confined environment, allowing water or hydroxide to initiate hydrolysis at a targeted site while a secondary rearrangement, referred to as the zou step, reorganizes the molecule to stabilize the transition state and steer products. The overall transformation aims to yield specific fragments rather than broad hydrolytic scission.

Speculative proponents have suggested potential uses such as biomass processing, selective saccharide or ester cleavage, and polymer recycling, where mild, selective reactions in water would be advantageous. Reported advantages include lower energy input, reduced side products, and compatibility with aqueous processing streams. However, there is no experimental validation in peer‑reviewed literature, and the concept remains a theoretical construct rather than an established reaction class.

Hydrolyzou has appeared mainly in thought experiments, speculative reviews, and fictional science discussions. It is not recognized as an established chemical phenomenon, and no standard protocols or catalysts exist.