Solvolysis

In

as intermediates or transition states.

Examples

For certain nucleophiles, solvolysis reactions are classified. Solvolysis involving

is however an older term for the multistep conversion of glucose to pyruvate.

Hydrolysis

While solvolysis often refers to an

.

In organic chemistry, hydrolysis reactions often give two fragments from an initial substrate. For example, the hydrolysis of amides give carboxylic acids and amines; the hydrolysis of esters give alcohols and carboxylic acids.

An example of a solvolysis reaction is the reaction of a triglyceride with a simple alcohol such as methanol or ethanol to give the methyl or ethyl esters of the fatty acid, as well as glycerol. This reaction is more commonly known as a transesterification reaction due to the exchange of the alcohol fragments.^[2]

Ammonolysis refers to solvolysis by ammonia, but can also describe nucleophilic attack by ammonia more generally. Ammonia boils at −33 °C, and, as such, is rarely used as a solvent in its pure form. It is, however, readily

with water, and is commonly used in the form of a saturated aqueous solution. For this reason, ammonolysis may be considered as a special case of solvolysis, as the ammonia is itself dissolved in a solvent. Despite this, the reactions are usually highly selective, due to the greater nucleophilicity of ammonia compared to water.

• Electrolysis
• Pyrolysis
• Nonclassical Ions
• List of water-miscible solvents