A lithium secondary battery comprises a cathode 1 capable of charging and discharging lithium ions, an anode 2 formed from a material which can be doped and de-doped with lithium ions, lithium metal, or the like, and an electrolyte that allows the movement of lithium ions. The anode 2 contains an imide compound represented by the chemical formula below. In the chemical formula above, Z is an optionally substituted —(CH2)n— (where n is an integer from 2 to 7), 1,2-cyclohexylene or 1,2-phenylene; X is a hydrogen atom, or an optionally substituted alkyl group, aralkylcarbonyl group, alkylcarbonyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, aralkyloxycarbonyl group, or imidyloxycarbonyl group.