A series of novel monoazo-disperse dyes containing pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine structures were synthesized starting with the coupling reaction between ethyl cyanoacetate and 4-hydroxybenzenediazonium chloride, followed by treatment of the resulting hydrazone product with hydrazine hydrate. The pyrazolohydrazone 6 is then treated with either 2,4-pentandione and enaminonitrile or aryl-substituted enaminoketones to give the target pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine dyes 7 and 15a-d. Structural assignments to the dyes were made using NMR spectroscopic methods. A new high temperature method, using microwave heating, was employed to apply these dyes to polyester fibers. Most of the dyed fabrics tested displayed moderate light fastness and excellent washing fastness properties.