The structure of groups with all proper quotients virtually nilpotent (Q6137572)

The authors define \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\) group (just non-class-\(c\)-nilpotent-by finite) as a not virtually class \(c\) nilpoten-by-finite group whose all proper quotients are class \(c\) nilpotent-by-fnite. The authors study \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\) groups in the paper and among others prove the following results. Theorem B. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated infinite profinite group that has no nontrivial abelian closed normal subgroup. Then \(G\) is \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\) if and only if the set \(\mathcal{A}_H = \{ \gamma_{c+1}(K) \mid K \triangleleft_o G\text{ with } \gamma_{c+1}(K) \not\leq H \}\) is finite for every open subgroup \(H\) of \(G\). Theorem C. Let \(G\) be a \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\) profinite or discrete group that has no nontrivial abelian normal subgroups. Then \(G\) is hereditarily \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\) if and only if every maximal (open) subgroup of finite index is \(\mathrm{JNN}_c\mathrm{F}\). As a preliminary tool the authors prove the following: Theorem A. Let \(G\) be a finitely generated profinite group. Then \(G\) is virtually nilpotent of class at most \(c\) if and only if the set \(\{ \gamma_{c+1}(K) \mid K\triangleleft_o G\}\) is finite.