The mass spectra of dicyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride and dicyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride are characterized by a unique fragmentation scheme involving the removal and fragmentation of the cyclopentadienyl groups in the molecular ions. From heats of combustion the heat of formation of Ti(C5H5)2Cl2 (s) and Zr(C5H5)2Cl2 (s) were determined to be -145 and -153 kcal/mole, respectively. The measured ionization potentials are I[Ti(C5H5)2Cl2] = 8.98±0.16 and I[Zr(C5H5)2Cl2] = 9.37±0.25 eV, respectively. Metastable transitions observed were used together with clastogram data to identify the fragmentation routes of the principal ionic species. © 1969.