We consider certain affine Kac-Moody Lie algebras. We give a Lie theoretic interpretation of the generalized Euler identities by showing that they are associated with certain filtrations of the basic representations of these algebras. In the case when the algebras have prime rank, we also give algebraic proofs of the corresponding identities.

The classification of the nilpotent orbits in the Lie algebra of a reductive algebraic group (over an algebraically closed field) is given in all the cases where it was not previously known (E7 and E8 in bad characteristic, F4 in characteristic 3). The paper exploits the tight relation with the corresponding situation over a finite field. A computer is used to study this case for suitable choices of the finite field.

In addition to the results of the paper (Bachturin (1974)) we give the precise form of the necessary and sufficient conditions ensuring that all irreducible representations of a Lie algebra were of finite bounded degree.

The conjugacy of Cartan subalgebras of a Lie algebra L over an algebraically closed field under the connected automorphism group G of L is inherited by those G-stable ideals B for which B/Ci is restrictable for some hypercenter Ci of B. Concequently, if L is a restrictable Lie algebra such that L/Ci restrictable for some hypercenter Ci of L, and if the Lie algebra of Aut L contains ad L, then the Cartan subalgebras of L are conjugate under G. (The techniques here apply in particular to Lie algebras of characteristic 0 and classical Lie algebras, showing how the conjugacy of Cartan subgroups of algebraic groups leads quickly in these cases to the conjugacy of Cartan subalgebras.)