A series of five 5-trichloromethyl-1-phenyl-1 H -pyrazoles and six 5-trichloromethyl-1,2-dimethylpyrazolium chlorides have been synthesized in 80–98% yield by environmentally benign microwave induced techniques involving the cyclocondensation of 4-alkoxy-1,1,1-trichloro-3-alken-2-ones [Cl 3 C(O)C(R 2 )=C(R 1 )OR, where R 2 =H, Me; R 1 =H, alkyl, phenyl and R=Me, Et] with phenyl hydrazine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride, respectively, using toluene as solvent. The use of microwave and classical methods are comparable for making pyrazoles, but the formation of pyrazolium chlorides can be achieved in a significant shorter time, and in some cases better yield.