An organic compound represented by general formula (1) is a novel organic compound having an absorption band in the near infrared region, and is useful for infrared absorbing dyes, optical films, and organic electronic devices such as photoelectric conversion elements, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a mercapto group, an alkylthio group, a nitro group, a substituted amino group, an amide group, an acyl group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, or an alkylcarbamoyl group; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group, a silylidyne group, a germylidyne group, a stannylidyne group, a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, an arsenic atom, or an antimony atom. ##STR00001##

An organic compound represented by general formula (1) is a novel organic compound having an absorption band in the near infrared region, and is useful for infrared absorbing dyes, optical films, and organic electronic devices such as photoelectric conversion elements, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, a mercapto group, an alkylthio group, a nitro group, a substituted amino group, an amide group, an acyl group, a carboxyl group, an acyloxy group, a cyano group, a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group, an alkylsulfamoyl group, a carbamoyl group, or an alkylcarbamoyl group; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted methine group, a silylidyne group, a germylidyne group, a stannylidyne group, a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, an arsenic atom, or an antimony atom.

##STR00001##