Simple and quick preparation of α-thiocyanate ketones in hydroalcoholic media. Access to 5-aryl-2-imino-1,3-oxathiolanes A simple preparation on gram-scale of thiocyanate derivatives via nucleophilic substitution of halogenated compounds with SCN salts at high substrate concentrations in a few minutes and excellent yields was successfully accomplished in hydroalcoholic media. The obtained compounds were employed for the efficient synthesis of valuable 5-aryl-2-imino-1,3-oxathiolane derivatives (a one-pot approach is also presented).In the last few years, sustainable processes are highly demanded in the chemical industry.1 The "process efficiency"concept is not only related to a high chemical yield, but also to the minimised use of large amounts of harmful organic solvents and production of chemical waste. have been shown. Finally, the formation of β-hydroxy thiocyanates via oxirane ring-opening with NH 4 SCN has been described. 21 In most cases, several reagents, organic solvents and high temperatures were employed, and therefore purification by chromatography was necessary. This is in contrast with the optimum conditions to synthesise these compounds since the isomerisation thiocyanate-isothiocyanate can occur in solution at temperatures above 50ºC and/or acidic conditions. 10,16,22 For these reasons, the development of new procedures for the easy and rapid synthesis of thiocyanate derivatives in high yields is required. Herein we report our efforts in the preparation of versatile thiocyanate compounds in aqueous mixtures at high substrate concentrations and further conversion into the interesting heterocyclic 2-imino-1,3-oxathiolane system employing mild reaction conditions and cheap reagents.