The effect of water molecules on the direct hydrogen abstraction from HOSO by NO2 was investigated for the first time. Stationary points were located at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2pd) and CCSD/aug-cc-pVDZ levels of theory whereas energetics was further improved by CBS-QB3 and G4 composite methods. The fractions of hydrated radical complexes were estimated in order to assess atmospheric relevance of the title reaction. The energy barrier of the water mediated process becomes negligible. The formations of post-reactive complexes from pre-reactive complexes are energetically very favorable and the processes are spontaneous suggesting that they should be very feasible under atmospheric conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.