On groups in which the centralizer of an involution satisfies min-\(\pi\) (Q1174018)

The following theorem was proved by the reviewer [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 33, 309-323 (1982; Zbl 0495.20011)]. Let \(G\) be a periodic almost locally soluble group containing an involution \(\varphi\) whose centralizer is a Chernikov group. Then \(G/[G,\varphi]\) and \([G,\varphi]'\) are Chernikov groups. The main theorem here has a similar flavour. Theorem: Let \(\pi\) be a finite set of primes containing 2, and let \(G\) be a periodic almost locally soluble group containing an involution whose centralizer satisfies \(\text{Min-}\pi\). Suppose that \([G,\varphi]\) is almost soluble. Then the commutator subgroup \([G,\varphi]'\) satisfies \(\text{Min-}\pi\). The proof is quite intricate. The assumption that \([G,\varphi]\) is almost soluble enables induction to be used on the derived length of a subgroup of finite index in this group. The author has since considerably improved this result, by removing the hypothesis that \([G,\varphi]\) is almost soluble and obtaining the further conclusion that \(G/[G,\varphi]\) satisfies \(\text{Min-}\pi\) [J. Algebra 155, 36-43 (1993; Zbl 0780.20024)]. The methods are quite different.