Process for the direct amination of hydrocarbons to aminohydrocarbons by reaction of a feed stream E comprising at least one hydrocarbon and at least one aminating reagent to form a reaction mixture R comprising aminohydrocarbon and hydrogen in a reaction zone RZ and electrochemical separation of at least part of the hydrogen formed in the reaction from the reaction mixture R by means of a gastight membrane-electrode assembly having at least one selectively proton-conducting membrane and at least one electrode catalyst on each side of the membrane, where at least part of the hydrogen is oxidized to protons at the anode catalyst on the retentate side of the membrane and the protons pass through the membrane and on the permeate side are reacted with oxygen to form water, where the oxygen originates from an oxygen-comprising stream O which is brought into contact with the permeate side of the membrane, over the cathode catalyst.