Finite groups of 2-local 3-rank at most one (Q796630)

Finite groups G are investigated whose 2-local 3-rank is at most one (i.e. the 2-local subgroups of G contain no elementary abelian groups of type (3,3)). It is proved, that one of the following alternatives holds (1) the 3-rank of G is at most 3; (2) the 2-rank of G is at most 1; (3) \(F^*(G/S(G))\simeq L_ 2(3^ n)\), \(n\geq 4\) and \(| S(G)|\) is coprime to 2 and 3. The proof of this result depends on earlier results of the author [ibid. 15, 71-88 (1976; Zbl 0354.20017); 20, 183-206 (1981; Zbl 0482.20011); Usp. Mat. Nauk 36, No.6(222), 227-228 (1981; Zbl 0482.20010)]. In the center of his arguments stands a careful analysis of the centralizer of an element of order 3 in G which is not 3-constrained.