NOVELTY - A tricyclic compound (1), is new.    USE - Novel tricyclic compound used as green or blue electroluminescent material in organic electroluminescent elements e.g. organic electroluminescent displays, and organic solar cells (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The tricyclic compound provides organic electroluminescent element with excellent luminescent property and improved lifetime.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A tricyclic compound of formula (1), is new.    A,B',C',D'=CR5 or N, and are not CR5 simultaneously;    R1-R5=H or group X, or R1 and R2 or R3 and R4 are connected by 3-60C alkylene or alkenylene (both optionally substituted by group X), or may form condensed ring, alicyclic ring, monocyclic ring or polycyclic aromatic ring;    group X=halo, 1-60C alkyl, 6-60C aryl, 3-60C heteroaryl, 5- or 6-membered heterocycloalkyl containing N, O, S and/or Si, 3-60C cycloalkyl, tri(1-60C) alkylsilyl, di(1-60C) alkyl (6-60C) aryl silyl, tri(6-60C) aryl silyl, adamantyl, bicyclo (7-60C) alkyl, 2-60C alkenyl, 2-60C alkynyl, 1-60C alkoxy, cyano, 1-60C alkylamino, 6-60C arylamino, 6-60C aryl (1-60C) alkyl, 6-60C aryloxy, 6-60C arylthio, 1-60C alkylthio, 1-60C alkoxycarbonyl, 1-60C alkyl carbonyl, 6-60C arylcarbonyl, carboxyl, nitro or hydroxyl;    Ar1,Ar2=group of formula: -Ar3-R6 or -Ar4-R7 (both optionally substituted by group X excluding halo), or groups of formulae (a-c);    Ar3,Ar4=1-60C alkyleneoxy, 1-60C alkylene thio, 6-60C arylene oxy or 6-60C arylene thio;    R6,R7=group X excluding halo;    R11-R23=R1 optionally substituted by group X excluding halo;    D",E=bond, -(CR31R32)a-, -N(R33)-, -S-, -O-, -Si(R34)(R35)-, -P(R36)-, -C(=O)-, -B(R37)-, -In(R38)-, -Se-, -Ge(R39)(R40)-, -Sn(R41)(R42)-, -Ga(R43)- or -(R44)C=C(R45)-;    R31-R45=R11;and    a=0-4.    Each of R11-R23, R31 and R32, R34 and R35, R39 and R40, R41 and R42 or R44 and R45 are optionally connected by 3-60C alkylene or 3-60C alkenylene, or may form alicyclic ring, monocyclic ring or polycyclic aromatic ring. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for organic electroluminescent element, which consists of electrodes (2,8), and organic layer containing the tricyclic compound provided between the electrodes. The organic layer further contains dopant chosen from formula (8), 9-benzothiazol-2-yl-1,1,6,6-tetramethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-1H,4H-11-oxa-3a-aza-benzo(de)anthracen-10-one and aryl compound of formula: Ar13-(N(-Ar11)(-Ar12))d.    R101-R104=R1 (optionally substituted by group X, excluding H);    Ar11,Ar12=arylene (optionally substituted by 1-60C alkyl, 6-60C aryl, 4-60C heteroaryl, 6-60C arylamino, 1-60C alkylamino, 5- or 6-membered heterocycloalkyl containing N, O, and/or S), or 3-60C cycloalkyl, or groups of formula (d) or of formula: -CC-Ar21- (e), or may condense to form alicyclic, monocyclic or polycyclic ring;    Ar13=6-60C arylene, 4-60C arylene or group of formula (f) or of formula: -CC-Ar22- (g) (optionally substituted by group X);    Ar21,Ar22=6-60C arylene or 4-60C heteroarylene (both optionally substituted by group X);    d,e=1-4;and    f=0 or 1.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the sectional view of the organic electroluminescent element.    Glass (1)    Electrodes (2,8)    Positive hole injection layer (3)    Hole transport layer (4)    Electroluminescent layer (5)