The title compound, C(12)H(13)ClO(2), was prepared by the direct asymmetric inter-molecular aldol reaction of cyclo-penta-none and 4-chloro-benzaldehyde catalysed by l-tryptophan in water. The absolute mol-ecular structure was determined to be a racemic twin with 91% (2R,3R) isomer and 9% of the (2S,3S) form. In the crystal structure, the mol-ecules are connected into a one-dimensional chain along the a axis through the formation of inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Further, non-conventional C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π contacts are observed in the structure, which consolidate the crystal packing.