The invention provides an organic electroluminescent compound containing imidazole which comprises the following structural formula as shown in the description. The compound has relatively good heat stability, high luminous efficacy and high luminous purity, and can be applied to the fields of organic electroluminescent devices, organic solar batteries, organic film transistors or organic photoreceptors. The invention also provides an organic electroluminescent device which comprises an anode, a cathode and an organic layer. The organic layer comprises at least one of a luminous layer, a holeinjection layer, a hole transportation layer, a hole barrier layer, an electron injection layer and an electron transportation layer. The at least one layer in the organic layer contains the compoundas shown in the structural formula I. The organic electroluminescent device manufactured by the compound has the advantages of good electroluminescent efficiency, excellent color purity and long service life.