Squarylium compounds and metal complex type optical recording media using the same.

A squarylium compound in a state of metal complex represented by the general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are identical or different and represent an alkyl group optionally having a substituent, an aralkyl group optionally having a substituent, an aryl group optionally having a substituent, or a heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent; Q represents a metal atom with a coordination ability; q represents 2 or 3; and A represents an aryl group optionally having a substituent, a heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent, or Y = CH- wherein Y represents an aryl group optionally having a substituent or a heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent, in the substituents for the aralkyl group, the aryl group and the heterocyclic group are 1 to 5 identical or different substituents, and are a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group optionally having a substituent, a alkoxy group, a nitro group and an amino group optionally having a substituent, wherein the substituents for the alkyl group are 1 to 3 identical or different substituents, and are a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a halogen atom and alkoxy group, wherein the substituents for the amino group are 1 or 2 identical or different alkyl groups.