A phosphorescent compound is formed by synthesizing an orthometallated complex by using easily-synthesized ligands. An electroluminescent device having high luminous efficiency uses the phosphorescent compound. Moreover, a light-emitting device operating at a low voltage uses the electroluminescent device. A phosphorescent compound represented by general formula [formula 1] is synthesized. Further, an electroluminescent device containing the phosphorescent compound is formed. In order to generate phosphorescent emission more efficiently, a heavy metal is preferably used as a central metal from the perspective of heavy atom effects. Therefore, one feature of the present invention is that the central metal M in the below general formula [formula 1] is iridium or platinum ##STR00001##