On a class of finite simple groups of Ree

THEOREM A. Let G be a jkite group with the fohwing properties: (a) S,-subgroups of G are Abelian, (b) G has no subgroup of index 2, (c) G contains an involution t such that C(t) = (t) x F, where F N PSL(2, q) and q > 5. Then G is a simple group, q = 32n+l (n > 1) and for any element x # 1 contained in C(t) and having an order prime to 6 we have C(x) C C(t). Finite groups of Ree [Z2] related to the simple Lie algebra of type G, satisfy the conditions of our Theorem A.