A novel bathophenanthroline compound of the general formula [I] or [II] is provided ##STR1##

wherein R¹ and R² may be the same or different and independently represent a linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group provided that at least one of R¹ and R² has at least two carbon atoms, and wherein Ar¹ and Ar² may be the same or different and independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. A process for preparing the compound is also provided wherein bathophenanthroline and an organolithium compound are subjected to nucleophilic substitution reaction to obtain the compound of the above formula [I] or [II].