Three polar Ni(II)-, Cu(II)- and Zn(II)-complexes (M-SSA) of salicylidene anthranilate sodium salt ligand were synthesized. The ligand (H 2 SSA) and its corresponding metal-complexes are characterized by alter- native physico-chemical tools in which H 2 SSA acts as tridentate bi-basic chelating agent. Catalytic poten- tial of M-SSA was investigated in the homogenous oxidation of 1,2-cyclohexene at 80 °C in acetonitrile, water or under solvent-free condition. M-complexes exhibit high catalytic reactivity with high chemose- lectivity in acetonitrile. Cu-SSA shows the highest catalytic potential for the oxidation of 1,2-cyclohexene than Ni-SSA or Zn-SSA. The lowest yield of the epoxy-product was obtained in water due to the hydroly- sis ring opening reaction affording 1,2-cyclohexanediol. The inhibition performance of H 2 SSA and M-SSA on the carbon steel corrosion (CS) in HCl was studied using electrochemical techniques. The inhibition capability was increased with increasing inhibitor dose. The adsorption of inhibitors on the surface of CS obeyed the Langmuir isotherm paradigm. Surface characterizations (SEM/EDX) revealed that the in- vestigated compounds adsorbed on CS surface and form protective layer that shield the surface from direct corrosion attack. The experimental data have been completed by density functional theory treat- ment. The obtained theoretical results are exceedingly in agreement with empirical results catalytically and inhibitory.