The carboxyl group (CO OH) is an omnipresent functional group in organic molecules, and its direct catalytic activation represents an attractive synthetic method. Herein) we describe the first example of a direct catalytic nudeophilic activation of carboxylic acids with BH3 center dot SMe2, after which the acids are able to act as carbon nucleophiles, i.e. enolates, in Mannich-type reactions. This reaction proceeds with a mild organic base (DBU) and exhibits high levels of functional group tolerance. The boron catalyst is highly chemoselective toward the COOH group, even in the presence of other carbonyl moieties, such as amides, esters, or ketones. Furthermore, this catalytic method can be extended to highly enantioselective Mannich-type reactions by using a (R)-3,3'-I-2-BINOL-substituted boron catalyst.