The use of 2-carboxyphenylboronic acid (5 mol %) and oxalic acid (10 mol %) with 2-butanone as a solvent for the racemization of a range of enantiomerically pure secondary and tertiary alcohols is demonstrated. The process is postulated to proceed via reversible Br??nsted acid-catalyzed C???O bond cleavage through an achiral carbocation intermediate. <comment>Superscript/Subscript Available</comment