A Serre presentation for the $\imath$quantum groups

Abstract: Let $(\bf U, \bf U^\imath)$ be a quasi-split quantum symmetric pair of arbitrary Kac-Moody type, where "quasi-split" means the corresponding Satake diagram contains no black node. We give a presentation of the $\imath$quantum group $\bf U^\imath$ with explicit $\imath$Serre relations. The verification of new $\imath$Serre relations is reduced to some new q-binomial identities. Consequently, $\bf U^\imath$ is shown to admit a bar involution under suitable conditions on the parameters.