This time it’s different? Effects of the Eurovision Debate on young citizens’ and its consequence for EU democracy – evidence from a quasi-experiment in 24 countries

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.For the very first time in EU history, the 2014 EP elections provided citizens with the opportunity to influence the nomination of the Commission President by casting a vote for the main Europarties’ ‘lead candidates’. By subjecting the position of the Commission President to an open political contest, many experts have formulated the expectation that heightened political competition would strengthen the weak electoral connection between EU citizens and EU legislators, which some consider a root cause for the EU’s lack of public support. In particular, this contest was on display in the so-called ‘Eurovision Debate’, a televised debate between the main contenders for the Commission President broadcasted live across Europe. Drawing on a quasi-experimental study conducted in 24 EU countries, we find that debate exposure led to increased cognitive and political involvement and EU support among young citizens. Unfortunately, the debate has only reached a very small audience

Metal–Ligand Synergistic Effects in the Complex Ni(η 2

In the current investigation, reactions of the bow-tie Ni(η2-TEMPO)2 complex with an assortment of donor ligands have been characterized experimentally and computationally. While the Ni(η2-TEMPO)2 complex has trans-disposed TEMPO ligands, proton transfer from the C-H bond of alkyne substrates (phenylacetylene, acetylene, trimethylsilyl acetylene, and 1,4-diethynylbenzene) produce cis-disposed ligands of the form Ni(η2-TEMPO) (κ1-TEMPOH)(κ1-R). In the case of 1,4-diethynylbenzene, a two-stage reaction occurs. The initial product Ni(η2-TEMPO)(κ1-TEMPOH)[κ1- CC(C6H4)CCH] is formed first but can react further with another equivalent of Ni(η2-TEMPO)2 to form the bridged complex Ni(η2-TEMPO)(κ1-TEMPOH) [κ1-κ1-CC(C6H4)CC] Ni(η2-TEMPO)(κ1-TEMPOH). The corresponding reaction with acetylene, which could conceivably also yield a bridging complex, does not occur. Via density functional theory (DFT), addition mechanisms are proposed in order to rationalize thermodynamic and kinetic selectivity. Computations have also been used to probe the relative thermodynamic stabilities of the cis and trans addition products and are in accord with experimental results. Based upon the computational results and the geometry of the experimentally observed product, a trans-cis isomerization must occur. © 2013 American Chemical Society