The title compound, C₁₀H₇Cl₃O, obtained as a major byproduct from a classical Schmidt reaction. The cyclohexyl ring is distorted from a classical chair conformation, as observed for monocyclic analogues, presumably due to conjugation of the planar annulated benzo ring and the ketone group (r.m.s. deviation 0.024 Å). There are no significant intermolecular interactions.