Significance of Hammett and Taft substituent constants on bonding potential of organic corrosion inhibitors: Tailoring of reactivity and performance

•The present report describes the effect of Hammett and Taft constants on the coordination bonding of corrosion inhibitors.•The substituents effect of aromatic and aliphatic compounds can be described with Hammett (σ) and Taft (σ*) constants.•The substituents at the p-position produce either inductive (I–), resonance (R–), or a combined effect of both.•The substituents at the m-position can manifest the inductive effect only.•The polar substituents including –OH, –NH2, –NMe2, –NO2, –COOH at p-position develop resonance-effect.