The residual finiteness of negatively curved polygons of finite groups

A subgroup M⊂G is almost malnormal provided that for each g∈G−M, the intersection M ^g ∩M is finite. It is proven that the free product of two virtually free groups amalgamating a finitely generated almost malnormal subgroup, is residually finite. A consequence of a generalization of this result is that an acute-angled n-gon of finite groups is residually finite if n≥4. Another consequence is that if G acts properly discontinuously and cocompactly on a 2-dimensional hyperbolic building whose chambers have acute angles and at least 4 sides, then G is residually finite. Oblatum 17-VII-2000 & 13-II-2002?Published online: 29 April 2002