PURPOSE: To form a film having low crystallinity and good amosphous state and to enable luminescence excellent in stability, and reliability by using a tetraarylethene derivative as the organic compound layer of an organic EL element.

CONSTITUTION: A tetraarylethene derivative represented by the formula is formed into a thin layer, and this layer is used as the pole-injecting and transporting layer 4 or the electron-injecting and transporting layer 6 of an organic EL element. In the formula, A1 to A3 are each an aromatic residue desirably phenyl; n is an integer of 2-6; and L is an n-valent aromatic residue and is desirably an aromatic hydrocarbon residue, an aromatic-heterocyclic group, an aromatic ether group or an aromatic amine residue. When it is used as the luminous layer 5, L is desirably 21C or higher arylene in addition to the above-mentioned groups or residues. This derivative has a molecular weight as high as about 500-2000, a melting point as high as 200-350°C and a glass transition point of 80-250°C.