An investigation into the mechanism of Cu-catalyzed aryl boronic acid halodeboronation using electrophilic halogen reagents is reported. Evidence is provided to show that this takes place via a boronate-driven ipso-substitution pathway and that Cu is not required for these processes to operate: general Lewis base catalysis is operational. This in turn allows the rational development of a general, simple, and effective base-catalyzed halodeboronation that is amenable to the preparation of 125 I-labeled products for SPECT applications.