The catalytic performance of Pt metal at the tips of carbon nanotubes (CNT@Pt), which was prepared by ethylene decomposition over Pt/MgO, was compared with that of Pt metal on the outer surface of CNT (Pt/CNT). CNT@Pt showed excellent catalytic performance toward the hydrogenation of alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols, which was similar to that of Pt/CNT and resulted from a strong interaction between Pt metal and the CNT.