Abstract
We report a direct, photocatalytic positional exchange reaction between boronic ester groups and unactivated C–H bonds in alkylboronates. This reaction employs a reversible C–H sampling strategy combining distinct hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) and donation (HAD) catalytic cycles, enabling exclusive 1,2-boryl translocation even in substrates with diverse distal C–H bonds. No directing groups (DGs), stoichiometric reagents, or pre-existing functional groups (FGs) are needed, and the mechanism is supported by experimental and computational evidence. By integrating on-demand boron repositioning with boron’s synthetic versatility, this method further offers valuable, strategic opportunities to enable streamlined assembly of molecular complexity.



![Author ORCID: We display the ORCID iD icon alongside authors names on our website to acknowledge that the ORCiD has been authenticated when entered by the user. To view the users ORCiD record click the icon. [opens in a new tab]](https://www.cambridge.org/engage/assets/public/coe/logo/orcid.png)