Final answer:
The favored mechanism of an epoxide substrate with an acidic alcohol reagent is the SN1 (substitution nucleophilic unimolecular) mechanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The favored mechanism of an epoxide substrate with an acidic alcohol reagent is the SN1 (substitution nucleophilic unimolecular) mechanism.
In the SN1 mechanism, the reaction proceeds in two steps. In the first step, the epoxide substrate undergoes heterolysis, forming a positively charged carbonation intermediate. In the second step, the acidic alcohol reagent acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonation intermediate, resulting in the substitution of the leaving group with the alcohol.
It is important to note that this mechanism is favored for tertiary epoxide substrates, while primary substrates usually do not react by the SN1 mechanism.