To provide a new phenanthroline derivative exhibiting an electron transportation performance which compares favorably with that of Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum) and to provide a method for producing the derivative and to provide application of the derivative.

The phenanthroline derivative is represented by general formula (1) [wherein R1 to R6 are groups selected each independently from a group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group (which may be substituted by an alkyl group), an aralkyl group (in which an aryl group part may be substituted by an alkyl group). an alkylamino group, RCOO (R is selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group and an aralkyl group), a cyano group and XA (X is an element selected from a group consisting of O, S, Se and Te and A is an alkyl group or an aryl group); Q is an aromatic group composed of a condensed ring having two or more rings].