The dissociation after membrane association can be observed from the intermolecular contacts decreasing upon membrane association. The intermolecular contacts between individual small molecules decrease as soon as the contact between those molecules and the membrane increases (Fig. and). Once these molecules are inside the membrane, the molecules will gradually spread out, and eschew contact with the water. Surprisingly, this suggests that the head group of sorgoleone and its precursors are buried slightly deeper in the membrane than a typical lipid headgroup, and has relatively little interaction with water (Fig. ).