HKUST-1 was synthesized by the solvothermal method. A combination of physicochemical methods proved that a single-phase nanocrystalline sample with a face-centered cubic crystal lattice was synthesized. The specific surface area of HKUST-1 was 569 m2/g with a narrow size distribution of 3–4 nm with a small fraction of slit mesopores from 20 nm to 60 nm. It was found that the absorption of difinylamine is 0.25 mmol per gram of HKUST-1, and benzatriazole is 0.65 mmol per gram of HKUST-1, which exceeds the indicators of difinylamine. Localization of difinylamine and benzatriazole molecules goes to copper ions in HKUST-1 due to an unshared electron pair on the nitrogen atom. Adsorption has an alternating character for difinylamine due to steric obstacles of bulk molecules, the benzatriazole molecule is more compact, which allows it to be adsorbed on each available copper ion. When processing a plate with a HKUST-1 compound with diphenylamine and benzotriazole, a protective film is formed, due to its inhibitory properties, the metal-organic frame compound is able to adsorb on the metal surface. The inhibitory film consisting of HKUST-1 completely covers the surface of carbon steel and effectively prevents corrosion. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.