[Sweep]

I added a picture attachment of the problem. i know it says to start the problem but i don't know how to start. i don't know whether to start with elimination of the ester or work on the cyanide.

For the second problem i was thinking LAH for the cycloNitrogen part then a reduction like wolff-kishner. but i dont know about replacing a Br with an amine.

[Sweep]

i realized i was trying to do them backwards. so now i used NaCN and a proton source to get the CN part. then i dont now how to form a carbon-carbon bond that would contain the ester.?
i no longer need help with part b.