Uzbekistan’s development experiment: An assessment of Karimov’s peculiar economic legacy

Uzbekistan’s unique post-independence experiment with development was led by Islam Karimov until his sudden death in September 2016. Despite defying international advice on structural reforms, under Karimov’s rule, Uzbekistan achieved an average annual growth rate of 5% in the period 1996–2016, which was particularly impressive (over 8%) in 2004–2016. Karimov also left behind strong macroeconomic fundamentals for his successor. Since taking over the presidency in December 2016, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has introduced wide-ranging reforms, creating an impression of a de facto start to transition in Uzbekistan. This study analyses Karimov’s economic legacy and assesses whether it has enabled or hindered the developmental targets set by his successor

Synthesis and Reactivity of Bis(silylene)‐Coordinated Calcium and Divalent Lanthanide Complexes

Divalent lanthanide complexes of Eu (1) and Yb (2) coordinated by a chelating pyridine‐based bis(silylene) ligand were isolated and fully characterized. Compared to the Eu$^{II}$ complex 1, the Yb$^{II}$ complex 2 presents a lower thermal stability, resulting in the activation of one Si$^{II}$−N bond and formation of an Yb$^{III}$ complex (3), which features a unique silylene‐pyridyl‐amido ligand. The different thermal stability of 1 and 2 points towards reduction‐induced cleavage of one Si$^{II}$−N bond of the bis(silylene) ligand. Successful isolation of the corresponding redox‐inert bis(silylene) Ca$^{II}$ complex (5) was achieved at low temperature and thermal decomposition into a Ca$^{II}$ complex (4) bearing the same silylene‐pyridyl‐amido ligand was identified. In this case, the thermolysis reaction proceeds through another, non‐redox induced, mechanism. An alternative higher yielding route to 4 was developed through an in situ generated silylene‐pyridyl‐amine proligand

Synthesis and characterization of cationic dicarbonyl Fe(II) PNP pincer complexes

The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s00706-016-1811-x.In the present work, we have prepared a series of octahedral Fe(II) complexes of the type trans-[Fe(PNP)(CO)2Cl]+—PNP are tridentate pincer-type ligands based on 2,6-diaminopyridine. These complexes are formed irrespective of the size of the substituents at the phosphorus sites and whether cis-[Fe(PNP)(Cl2)(CO)] or trans-[Fe(PNP)(Cl2)(CO)] are reacted with CO in the presence of 1 equiv of silver salts. X-ray structures of representative complexes are presented. Based on simple bonding considerations the selective formation of trans-dicarbonyl Fe(II) complexes is unexpected. In fact, DFT calculations confirm that trans-dicarbonyl complexes are indeed thermodynamically disfavored over the respective cis-dicarbonyl compounds, but are favored for kinetic reasons.Austrian Science Fund (FWF)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

High-spin iron(II) complexes with mono-phosphorylated 2,6-diaminopyridine ligands

Several new monophosphorylated 2,6-diaminopyridine ligands bearing PiPr2 and PtBu2 units (PNNH2-iPr, PNNH2-tBu, PNNHMe-iPr, and PNNHEt-iPr) are prepared by treatment of the respective 2,6-diaminopyridines with the chlorophosphines PiPr2Cl and PtBu2Cl in the presence of a base. Treatment of anhydrous FeCl2 with 1 equiv of these afforded the tetracoordinated coordinatively unsaturated 14e− complexes [Fe(κ2P,N-PNNH2-iPr)Cl2] and [Fe(κ2P,N-PNNH2-tBu)Cl2], while with PNNHMe-iPr and PNNHEt-iPr a phosphine transfer reaction of a second PN ligand took place to yield the known PNP pincer complexes [Fe(κ3P,N,P-PNPMe-iPr)Cl2] and [Fe(κ3P,N,P-PNPEt-iPr)Cl2]. The four-coordinate complexes [Fe(κ2P,N-PNNH2-iPr)Cl2] and [Fe(κ2P,N-PNNH2-tBu)Cl2] did not react with CO and the formation of iron PNC pincer complexes was not observed. The reason for the reluctance to add CO was investigated in detail by DFT calculations.Austrian Science Fund (FWF)Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

National and transnational strategies of LGBT civil society organizations in different political environments: Modes of interaction in Western and Eastern Europe for equality

This article focuses on the national and transnational strategies of five European Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender civil society organizations (CSOs) pressing for equality and non-discrimination. We present three modes of interaction between CSOs and their political environment. The first mode we label 'morality politics'. Arcigay in Italy and the Campaign against Homophobia in Poland are seemingly locked in this mode because they are confronted with a hostile and organized opposition, both in terms of public opinion and elite opinion. A second mode of interaction we label an 'incremental change' mode and is the strategy pursued by Stonewall in the United Kingdom and the Hatter Society in Hungary, marked by discreet elite level lobbying. Finally, we introduce a third mode of interaction we label 'high-profile politics'. This mode is marked by highly visible public events, coalition seeking, cooperation with government, and transnational activity at the European level and abroad. This is a strategy possible by CSOs where there is a high degree of public support for equality and minimal partisan or religious opposition to the goals of the movement. The Dutch COC has been pursuing this 'high-profile politics' mode of interaction in their political environment over the past few years. Comparative European Polities (2012) 10, 23-47. doi:10.1057/cep.2010.21; published online 3 October 201