Disclosed is a novel group of compounds having a general structure of anthracene body substituted with at least one thiophenyl group, which can be further substituted with various substituent groups. These new compounds are generally compatible with organic electroluminescence. Also disclosed are organic electroluminescent devices and method of making the same. The organic electroluminescent devices include at least one of the compounds in various layers thereof. Organic electroluminescent devices employing the new compounds in their light-emitting layers show outstanding stability.