An organic electroluminescent element contains a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a thin organic layer arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the thin organic layer comprises, as a luminescent material, a peropyrene compound represented by following Structural Formuala (1): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.6, R.sup.8 and R.sup.13 may be the same as or different from one another and each represent a group represented by following Structural Formula (2); and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.14 each represent hydrogen atom or a substituent: ##STR00002## wherein R.sup.15 and R.sup.16 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent one of hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and an aryl group, where R.sup.15 and R.sup.16 may be bound to each other directly or indirectly.