A series of novel molecules with a cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) moiety appended on and bearing different aromatic fragments in the structures were synthesized and characterized. The binding activities of these compounds towards DNA were systematically studied by spectroscopic, viscometric and gel electrophoresis methods. The results suggest that the stacking interaction plays an important role in improving the DNA binding ability of the compounds. The binding modes of the compounds towards DNA are also affected by the sizes of the aromatic rings. The binding interaction between binaphthyl compound 1b and several nucleosides was studied by fluorescence titration. Stacking interaction and hydrophobic interaction play the key role in such non-selective binding process.stacking and hydrophobic interactions, DNA binding, aromatic compounds, nucleosides, oligonucleotides