An organic electroluminescent element that uses a compound expressed by the following general formula emits dark blue light and exhibits little change in chromaticity during brightness modulation. (n1 is an integer from 0 to 8; the R1 [groups] are each independently a substituent substituted for a hydrogen atom of the pyrene skeleton; X is CRaRb (Ra and Rb are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent), O, S, or SiRdRe (Rd and Re are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent); and A1 to A4 represent each independently either N or CRf (Rf represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and two adjacent Rf [groups] may jointly form a saturated or unsaturated ring, but no more than two rings may be formed jointly by two or more of the Rf [groups]).)