Centrality of $\mathrm K_2$ for Chevalley groups: a pro-group approach

Abstract

We prove the centrality of $\mathrm{K}_2 (\mathsf{F}_4, \,R)$ for an arbitrary commutative ring $R$. This completes the proof of the centrality of $\mathrm K_2(\Phi,\, R)$ for any root system $\Phi$ of rank $\geq 3$. Our proof uses only elementary localization techniques reformulated in terms of pro-groups. Another new result of the paper is the construction of a crossed module on the canonical homomorphism $\mathrm{St}(\Phi, R) \to \mathrm{G}_\mathrm{sc}(\Phi, R)$, which has not been known previouly for exceptional $\Phi$.