We introduce a variety of noncommutative polynomials that represent divide-and-conquer recurrence systems. Our setting involves at the same time variables that behave like words in purely noncom-mutative algebras and variables governed by commutation rules like in skew polynomial rings. We then develop a Gröbner-basis theory for left ideals of such polynomials. Strikingly, the nature of commutations generally prevents the leading monomial of a polynomial product to be the product of the leading monomials. To overcome the difficulty, we consider a specific monomial ordering, together with a restriction to monic divisors in intermediate steps. After obtaining an analogue of Buchberger's algorithm, we develop a variant of the 4 algorithm, whose speed we compare.