Compounds such as 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT), 2-amino-6-chlorobenzothiazole (ACLBT), 2-amino-6-methyl benzothiazole (AMEBT) and 2-amino-6-methoxy benzothiazole (AMEOBT) have been synthesized and their inhibitive action on the corrosion of mild steel in 1 M HCl has been evaluated using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization studies and hydrogen permeation measurements. Determination of inhibition efficiency in the presence of these compounds at different temperatures clearly indicates that ACLBT shows the best performance, even at a temperature as high as 60 degrees C. Potentiodynamic polarization studies reveal the fact that ABT and its derivatives act as cathodic inhibitors. All these compounds are found to reduce the permeation of hydrogen through mild steel in HCl solution. The adsorption of these compounds on mild steel from HCl solutions obeys Temkin’s adsorption isotherm. The adsorption of 2-amino benzothiazole on the mild steel has been substantiated by Auger electron spectroscopy.