Commutators and pronilpotent subgroups in profinite groups. (Q405738)

If \(G\) is a finite group, and \(P\) is a Sylow \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\), then a consequence of the Focal Subgroup Theorem states that the intersection \(P\cap G'\) of \(P\) with the derived subgroup of \(G\) is generated by commutators. This implies that if \(G\) is a profinite group, and all of its pro-\(p\) subgroups which are generated by commutators have finite exponent dividing a certain number \(e\), than the exponent of \(G'\) also divides \(e\). The main result of the paper under review provides an answer to an instance of the general problem that asks what kind of information on \(G'\) can be inferred by imposing a particular condition on the commutators of the group \(G\). In this case, the result states that if \(G\) is a profinite group, and all of its pronilpotent subgroups generated by commutators are periodic, then \(G'\) is locally finite.