A Note on Derivations of Group Rings

Abstract

LetRGdenote the group ring of a groupGover a semiprime ringR. We prove that, if the center ofGis of finite index and some natural restrictions hold, then everyR-derivation ofRGis inner. We also give an example of a groupGwhich is both locally finite and nilpotent and such that, for every fieldF, there exists anF-derivation ofFGwhich is not inner.