Pyrimidines as Potential Corrosion Inhibitors: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives

Heterocyclic molecules containing nitrogen are extensively studied as corrosion inhibitors due to their capability to form strong coordination bonds with metallic atoms. The excellent corrosion protection action of pyrimidine derivatives can be attributed to the presence of electronwithdrawing and electron-donating substituents that allow an improved protection performance compared to that of the parent pyrimidine molecule. Computational studies have provided evidence that the pyrimidine-based molecules undergo donor-acceptor type interactions with metallic substrates. In general, the organic corrosion inhibitors undergo a mixed-type of adsorption behavior, and their adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm. This chapter presents an overview of pyrimidine-based molecules as corrosion inhibitors for metals and alloys in a variety of corrosive environments.