A 3-hydro-4-pyridinone compound derived from maltol and dopamine has been prepared using a microwave reactor. The molecular structure of the protonated product was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals were obtained from a saturated solution of methanol and belong to the triclinic space group P-1 with unit cell parameters a = 8.3801(11) Å; b = 9.2583(12) Å; c = 11.5671(15) Å; α = 73.566(2)°; β = 84.514(2)°; γ = 66.578(2)°. The asymmetric unit contains two molecules.