Abstract A new and efficient approach for the synthesis of thioflavones and thioaurones by competitive cascade cyclization of 2′-tosyloxychalcones has been developed. 2′-Tosyloxychalcones were smoothly converted into thioflavones and thioaurones by incorporation of sulfur atom using elementalsulfur and triethylamine in DMSO with good yields. The advantages of the methodology are the formation of both