Some beta-amino alcohols compounds in the series of 1,3- bis-dialkyl (CnH2n+1) aminopropan-2-ols referred to as n-apo-n, where n= 2, 3 and 4, were tested as volatile corrosion inhibitors for brass in simulated atmospheric water using potentiodynamic, potentiostatic current transient, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, gravimetric, and volatile inhibition ability measurements. The evolution of the inhibition effect of the investigated compounds has been monitored according to the length of alkyl chain. The results indicated that the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing the alkyl chain length and inhibitor concentration. Polarization curves showed that these compounds acted as good anodic inhibitor in simulated atmospheric water. The values of charge transfer resistance, obtained from impedance plots of brass, distinctly increased with increase of the inhibitor concentration. The inhibition mechanism was discussed in light of the chemical structure of undertaken inhibitors. The adsorption of the inhibitors on the brass surface followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The surface evaluation techniques like scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface film. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.