Rik Tykwinski, University of Alberta

Research

acenes polyynes carbon allotropes conjugated oligomers cumulenes molecular electronics organic synthesis physical organic chemistry

Latest papers

In Honor of Prof. Peter R. Schreiner.
Journal of computational chemistry · 2026 · senior author
Bending a Cumulene with Electrons: Stepwise Chemical Reduction and Structural Study of a Tetraaryl[4]Cumulene.
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 2024
Novel Aromatics: Official Special Issue of ISNA-18.
ChemPlusChem · 2019

All 3 publications

Latest funding

Synthesis of conjugated polyynes by alkyne metathesis
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$25,000
Acetylenic scaffolding for the synthesis of carbon-rich structures
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$222,000
Enhanced solar-energy capture through optimization of up- and down-conversion in organic molecules
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$199,750

All 19 grants and awards

3 publications.

01

In Honor of Prof. Peter R. Schreiner.

Frenking G, Puchta R, Haley M, Tykwinski R

Journal of computational chemistry2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/jcc.70457 PMID: 42444372

02

Bending a Cumulene with Electrons: Stepwise Chemical Reduction and Structural Study of a Tetraaryl[4]Cumulene.

Zhou Z, Johnson MA, Wei Z, Bühringer MU, Garner MH, Tykwinski R, Petrukhina MA

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2024

DOI: 10.1002/chem.202304145 PMID: 38433113

03

Novel Aromatics: Official Special Issue of ISNA-18.

Fukazawa A, Toyota S, Tykwinski R, Wong W

ChemPlusChem2019

DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900232 PMID: 31944009

Synthesis of conjugated polyynes by alkyne metathesis

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Tykwinski, Rik RR

Keywords: alkyne metathesis; alkynes; catalysis; polyynes; structure-function; synthetic methods

$25,000

Acetylenic scaffolding for the synthesis of carbon-rich structures

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Tykwinski, Rik

Keywords: physical organic chemistry; polyynes; cumulenes; carbon allotropes; acenes; conjugated oligomers; molecular electronics; topochemical polymerization; rotaxanes; organic synthesis

$222,000

Enhanced solar-energy capture through optimization of up- and down-conversion in organic molecules

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Tykwinski, Rik RR

Keywords: acenes; organic semi-conductors; quantum-chemical calculations; quantum-dynamical calculations; singet fission; solar energy capture; synthesis; synthetic design; ultra-fast spectroscopy; upconversion

$199,750

sp-Hybridized carbon as a building block in the synthesis of molecules and materials

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Tykwinski, Rik

$834,000

Foundations of thermal bitumen conversion and fouling

Co-investigatorNSERC2008Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Gray, Murray

$231,909

Single-crystal x-ray diffractometer with CCD area detector

Co-investigatorNSERC2008Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Cowie, Martin

$150,000

Synthesis and materials properties of polyynes and polyenynes

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Tykwinski, Rik

$383,646

Replacement magnet for 400 MHz NMR spectrometer

Co-investigatorNSERC2006Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Cowie, Martin

$150,000

A monomode microwave reactor for reaction optimization and library sythesis

Co-investigatorNSERC2005Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Hall, Dennis

$92,906

Colloquium on molecules and nanoscience

Co-investigatorNSERC2003International Opportunity Fund

Principal investigators: Wuest, James

$16,800

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: acenes Dear Professor Tykwinski, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "In Honor of Prof. Peter R. Schreiner." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Synthesis of conjugated polyynes by alkyne metathesis" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]