Novel triazolyl bis-amino acid derivatives readily synthesized via click chemistry as potential corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in HCl

Highlights: ► Triazolyl bis-amino acids as new corrosion inhibitors. ► EIS and polarization demonstrate their potency. ► Inhibitor 4 obeys Langmuir isotherm. ► Modeling study suggests the triazole ring essential for surface adsorption. - Abstract: Triazolyl bis-amino acid derivatives readily synthesized via click chemistry were identified as novel potent corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in HCl. The inhibitive characteristic of compound 4 was studied in detail via gravimetric measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, a quantum chemical study suggests that the triazole ring involved in these inhibitors is structurally essential for the protection of metal surface.