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The elicitation of hydrolytic catalysts from a dynamic library of imine-zinc(II) complexes (and their precursor aldehydes and amines) via templating with pro-transition state analogs (pro-TSA) is described. pro-TSA (2-pyridyl)phosphonate 2 amplifies a benzimidazole-derived complex at the expense of an imidazole analogue; the amplified complex is also more active for the hydrolysis of the pyridyl ester 1a. Employing pro-TSA pyridyl hydrate 3 with libraries of Zn complexes of imines having nucleophilic side chains also perturbs the library in favor of imine-Zn complexes which prove to be the more active hydrolytic agents and catalysts. The catalytic hydrolyses exhibit both saturation kinetics and inhibition by the pro-TSA. This process for catalyst evolution is operationally simple, amenable to high throughput screening, potentially applicable to a wide variety of catalytic reactions and thus could offer a practical alternative to catalytic antibodies and imprinted polymers.