The invention is directed towards a process for the epoxidation of olefins, using molecular oxygen and hydrogen, characterized in that, as catalyst, a compound comprising gold, preferably in nanometer size, on a support material, in which the support material is comprised of Scandium, Yttrium, Lanthanide, Zirconium, Hafnium, Vanadium, Niobium, Tantalum, Chromium, Molybdenum and/or Tungsten and is essentially free of titanium is applied, and a compound comprising gold, preferably in nanometer size, on a support material, in which the support material is comprised of Scandium, Yttrium, Lanthanide, Zirconium, Hafnium, Vanadium, Niobium, Tantalum, Chromium, Molybdenum and/or Tungsten and is essentially free of titanium, a process for the preparation of said compounds and a method of catalyzing a chemical reaction through conducting said chemical reaction in the presence of said compound.