Enveloping algebras of Malcev algebras

Abstract: We first discuss the construction by Perez-Izquierdo and Shestakov of universal nonassociative enveloping algebras of Malcev algebras. We then describe recent results on explicit structure constants for the universal enveloping algebras (both nonassociative and alternative) of the 4-dimensional solvable Malcev algebra and the 5-dimensional nilpotent Malcev algebra. We include a proof (due to Shestakov) that the universal alternative enveloping algebra of the real 7-dimensional simple Malcev algebra is isomorphic to the 8-dimensional division algebra of real octonions. We conclude with some brief remarks on tangent algebras of analytic Bol loops and monoassociative loops. This is a revised and expanded version of the survey talk given by the first author at the Second Mile High Conference on Nonassociative Mathematics at the University of Denver (Denver, Colorado, USA, June 22 to 26, 2009).