Corrosion inhibitors are the third most used method for the protection of metallic objects. Many organic and inorganic substances are known corrosion inhibitors. Among them are the oxazolines which are obtained by conventional chemical synthesis. A comparative study about the possible inhibitor effect in atmospheric conditions of three compounds of the family of 2-oxazoline, obtained through non-conventional chemical synthesis using microwaves, was carried out. The compounds were: 2-bencyl-4, 4-dihydroxymethyl-2 oxazoline (I); 2-heptadecenyl-4, 4-bis (estearoiloxymethyl)-2 oxazoline (II); 2-heptadecenyl- 4, 4-dihydroxymethyl-2 oxazoline (III). All inhibitors were dissolved in basic oil at 0.2% (I); 2.0% (II); 1.0% (III) in weight, optimum concentrations having been previously determined. Accelerated test methods (neutral salt spray chamber; SO2 atmosphere; heat-humidity chamber) as well as electrochemical (polarisation curves i-E; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS; potential-time curves E-t) were used on AISI-1020 steel. Starting from the weight loss, Ecorr, icorr, corrosion rates, and impedance modules values it was concluded that oxazolines II and III are inhibitors of atmospheric corrosion of AISI-1020 steel, with oxazoline III having the better properties. A mechanism that explains this behaviour is presented, which takes into consideration the possibility of the oxazoline and the two hydroxymethyl groups of oxazoline III of adsorbing onto the metal surface, thus forming a passive film. A protective oil-based coating using oxazoline III has been tested outdoors and in the deposit of a Museum with satisfactory results, according to ISO 4540-1980, after 12 months of exposure.