An organic electroluminescent device has a single hetero structure comprising, on a glass substrate, an ITO transparent electrode, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer and a metal electrode superposed in this. order wherein a hole-blocking layer containing a bathophenanthroline derivative of the following general formula is interposed between the hole transport layer and the electron transport layer. In this way, the electron-hole-re-combination in the hole transporting luminescent layer can be promoted. General Formula of Bathophenanthoroline Derivative: wherein X and Y may be the same or different and independently represent a hydrogen atom except the case where a hydrogen atom is at the 2 or 9 position, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group except the case where a methyl group is at the 2 or 9 position, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group or a hydroxyl group provided that at least one of these groups is contained at an arbitrary position.