In the course of corrosion tests, the protective properties of sodium nitrite and phenol derivatives in the electrolyte simulating a pore liquid of concrete contaminated with chlorides were compared. The experiments were carried out not only in hermetically sealed cells but also and in conditions of free access of air. It was found that in hermetically sealed cells phenol and resorcinol inhibit corrosion of steel, but significantly inferior to the protective ability of sodium nitrite. Hydroquinone protects steel more effectively than nitrite under conditions of limited oxygen access to metal. However, there is a significant deformation of plastic cells, which may be due to the absorption of oxygen, and the corresponding inhibition of the cathode process. With natural aeration of the model electrolyte hydroquinone in concentrations (1….2 g/l) inhibits the corrosion process in 2…8 times. In this case, the samples were covered with a gray film with a blue tint, but unlike nitrite, full protection of steel was not observed. Large concentrations of hydroquinone under these conditions significantly activate the corrosion of steel.