The present invention provides for compounds comprising at least one phosphonate or phosphinate moiety; and at least one moiety selected from an aromatic nitroso or an aromatic nitroso precursor and combinations thereof. Adhesive compositions comprising the compounds may find utility in bonding polymers to metal and or hydroxylated surfaces such as glass. Suitable polymers include natural and synthetic rubbers. The aromatic nitroso precursor may be a nitrosobenzene precursor such as at least one of a quinone dioxime or a quinone oxime.