Adhesive compositions are disclosed which cure rapidly and completely on confinement between passive substrates, such as magnesium alloys, that are deficient in transition metals and transition metal ions. The compositions include one or more acrylate resins, one or more peroxy free radical initiators, one or more onium salts, and an accelerator such as acetylphenyl hydrazine desirably in an amount of about 1.0% or less by weight of the composition. These compositions provide exceptional bonding to such substrates without the need for a transition metal primer. Methods of making and using such compositions are also disclosed.