A novel phenanthroline compound is provided which is suitable as a compound for an organic EL device and is represented by the general formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a halogen atom with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 is a group represented by the general formula (II): ##STR00002## and R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12, R.sub.13, R.sub.14, R.sub.15, R.sub.16, R.sub.17, R.sub.18, R.sub.19, and R.sub.20 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or a halogen atom.