NOVELTY - An aromatic compound satisfying the following conditions: (a) It has 2 or more structures surrounded by at least 4 coordinatable nitrogen atoms, and the structures may be the same or different; and (b) at least one of the nitrogen atoms composing the structure is a nitrogen atom in a 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, is new.    USE - The aromatic compound is useful for preparing metal complex, composition, modified compound, catalyst, electrode, electrode catalysts for fuel cell, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The invention provides nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds with excellent oxygen reduction activity.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are:    (1) a metal complex having a metal atom or metal ion, and a ligand comprising the aromatic compound;    (2) a composition comprising the aromatic compound and/or the metal complex, and a carbon material and/or polymer material;    (3) a modified compound obtained by modifying the aromatic compound, the metal complex, or the composition, by heat, radiation irradiation or electric discharge;    (4) a composition comprising the modified compound and a carbon material and/or polymer material;    (5) a catalyst comprising the aromatic compound, the metal complex, the composition, or the modified compound;    (6) an electrode comprising the aromatic compound, the metal complex, the composition, or the modified compound;    (7) an electrode catalysts for fuel cell comprising the aromatic compound, the metal complex, the composition, or the modified compound;    (8) a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the electrode catalysts for fuel cell; and    (9) a nitrogen-containing aromatic compound comprising formulae (11)-(20), (22) or (23).    R11-R20, R22, and R23=hydrogen or a substituent and each may be the same or different, with adjacent substituents optionally bonding together to form a ring;    Q11=a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic ring and each may be the same or different;    T12=bromine atom, chlorine atom or iodine atom and each may be the same or different;    E13, E20 and E22=each independently represent hydrogen or a protecting group; and    X16 and X17=each independently represent hydrogen or a halogeno group, or the X16 and X17 groups are bonded together as direct bonds.