PURPOSE: To obtain a new compound having properties capable of readily controlling absorbing wavelength region, forming pit having high accuracy and decreasing damage of a recording medium to a substrate and providing a light medium recording having good durability and recording characteristics with high sensitivity. CONSTITUTION: This compound is expressed by formula I [M is two hydrogen atoms, a divalent metal atom, etc.; L is formula II or formula III (R to R are each H or a 1-15C alkyl), e.g. a compound of formula IV. The compound is preferably obtained by thermally reacting, e.g. a compound of formula V with a metal derivative such as cuprous chloride in an alcohol in the presence of 1, 8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene. Furthermore, the compound of formula V is preferably obtained by reacting 3-nitrophthalonitrile with an alcohol derivative of the formula R OH (R is an alkyl) such as 1-butyn-3-ol in the presence of a base to afford an alkoxyphthalonitrile and reacting the resultant compound in a solvent having high boiling point.