Ru(ii) complexes that bring together the properties of the dppz (dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) intercalating residue and the properties of metal-coordinating macrocycles (L = 4,4'-(2,5,8,11,14-pentaaza[15])-2,2'-bipyridilophane) have been synthesised and their protonation and affinity for copper(ii) was analysed. Ru(bpy)(dppz)L(2+) (D2(2+)) and Ru(dppz)(2)L(2+) (D3(2+)) were found to interact with DNA but the binding mode is not simple and its features strongly depend both on the ligand structure and on the [DNA]/[complex] ratio. Equilibrium measurements (spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric titrations), kinetics (stopped-flow technique) and theoretical calculations all concur in suggesting that for the less hindered D2(2+) an important contribution of external binding, driven by dye-dye interactions, is operative, as revealed by the onset of positive cooperativity. On the contrary, for the bulkier D3(2+) complex dye-dye interactions are less effective, resulting in an intercalation process with lower dppz penetration within DNA slots. The Ru(bipy)(2)L(2+)(D1(2+))/DNA system was also analysed for comparison and helped in showing the non negligible contribution of the macrocycle to the binding process. The binding affinities of the macrocycle copper complexes for DNA are lower than those of their copper-free analogues only in the case of D1(2+), whereas an affinity enhancement in agreement with the charge increase upon copper coordination is observed for D2(2+) and D3(2+). Copper coordination produces complete loss of the cooperative behaviour in the case of D2(2+). Further mechanistic details are discussed.