Carbon xerogels-TiO2 composites were developed and used as Pt-supports. H2 pretreatment and carbon phase induce the formation of oxygen vacancies on TiO2. The combination of oxygen vacancies-Pt is the active and selective sites for citral hydrogenation. Citral is adsorbed and hydrogenated by CO bonds using composites as Pt-support. Selective catalysts for citral hydrogenation to unsaturated alcohols are obtained.