A variety of spherical and structured activated charcoal supported Pt/Fe3O4 composites with an average particle size of ∼100 nm have been synthesized by a self-assembly method using the difference of reduction potential between Pt (IV) and Fe (II) precursors as driving force. The formed Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) effectively prevent the aggregation of Pt nanocrystallites and promote the dispersion of Pt NPs on the surface of catalyst, which will be favorable for the exposure of Pt active sites for high-efficient adsorption and contact of substrate and hydrogen donor. The electron-enrichment state of Pt NPs donated by Fe3O4 nanocrystallites is corroborated by XPS measurement, which is responsible for promoting and activating the terminal C=O bond of adsorbed substrate via a vertical configuration. The experimental results show that the activated charcoal supported Pt/Fe3O4 catalyst exhibits 94.8% selectivity towards cinnamyl alcohol by the transfer hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde with Pt loading of 2.46% under the optimum conditions of 120 °C for 6 h, and 2-propanol as a hydrogen donor. Additionally, the present study demonstrates that a high-efficient and recyclable catalyst can be rapidly separated from the mixture due to its natural magnetism upon the application of magnetic field.