We report the one-step syntheses in good yields of the complexes cis-[M(CO)4(pzpy)] {M = Mo, W; pzpy = ethyl[3-(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrazolyl]acetate} directly from the corresponding M(CO)6 starting materials by using microwave-assisted heating and reaction times of either 30 s (M = Mo) or 15 min (M = W). The structure of the molybdenum tetracarbonyl complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound is monomeric and the molybdenum atom has a highly distorted octahedral geometry. The close packing of the individual cis-[Mo(CO)4(pzpy)] species is essentially driven by the need to fill the space effectively, closely mediated by weak C-H-O and pi-pi interactions.