Provided is an organic EL element which has a low light emission ratio of a component that has a wavelength longer than the emission peak wavelength, high luminous efficiency, low driving voltage, long emission life and excellent long-term stability, while being suppressed in voltage increase during the driving. This organic EL element comprises organic layers that are sandwiched between a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and at least one of the organic layers contains a compound that has a structure represented by general formula (1). (In general formula (1), R represents an alkyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an acyl group, a sulfinyl group, a sulfonyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydroxy group or a mercapto group; Ar represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group; X1-L1-X2 represents a bidentate ligand; and two adjacent moieties among R1-R4 moieties represent groups represented by one of general formulae (2)-(4).) (In general formulae (2)-(4), each of Y1-Y4 moieties represents O, S or N-R'; each of Y5 and Y6 moieties represents CR'' or N; and each of Z1-Z8 moieties represents C-Rx or N.) AA General formula